Cyclone Christine could wash away roads and run ships aground in WA
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Version 0 of 1. Roads could wash away and ships run aground when the category 3 cyclone Christine makes landfall in Western Australia between Monday night and Tuesday morning. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a cyclone warning for the Kimberley coast and the Pilbara, with the cyclone expected to hit somewhere between Karratha and Port Hedland. Senior forecaster Jenny Sturrock said winds at the centre of the cyclone could reach up to 200km/h and create “very dangerous” storm tides. “Tides are expected far above the usual high-tide marks and storm surges could hit the coast as well,” she said. “There are warnings it could wash away roads and ships could run aground.” Cyclone Christine is currently about 180km off the coast and once it makes landfall it is expected to track south-east. However, unlike the average cyclone, it is not expected to disintegrate quickly after it hits land. “The interesting thing about this cyclone is it is expected to keep its integrity and stay a category 1 [cyclone] as it heads inland,” Sturrock said. “So towns inland are being told to prepare for flooding and destructive winds.” The cyclone is moving at about 10km/h and could intensify further as it moves towards the coast. The cyclone warnings issued from BOM are for land from Cape Leveque to Exmouth, including Broome, Port Hedland, Karratha and Onslow, and extending inland to Paraburdoo. The dangerous storm tides are expected to hit between Pardoo and Mardie late on Monday and early on Tuesday. Ships have been evacuated in the inner and outer harbour of Port Hedland. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |