Western Australia | 26 Jan 2012
A Cyclone WATCH has been declared for coastal areas from Whim Creek to Coral Bay. At 2:00 pm WST Tropical Cyclone Iggy, Category 1 was estimated to be 820 kilometres northwest of Exmouth and 970 kilometres west northwest of Karratha and moving southeast at 5 kilometres per hour towards the west Pilbara coast. The cyclone is expected to intensify steadily as it approaches the coast. Tropical Cyclone Iggy is moving southeast towards the west Pilbara coast at about 6 kilometres per hour. Gales are not expected in coastal communities on Thursday or Friday, however gales may develop on the coast between Whim Creek and Coral Bay on Saturday afternoon or overnight into Sunday. Rainfall is likely to increase on Friday in coastal parts of the Pilbara, west Kimberley and possibly on the west coast north of Cape Cuvier. Strong winds, heavy rainfall and abnormally large swells will be experienced near Christmas Island, the Kimberley and Pilbara coasts due to the influence of a strong monsoonal flow. FESA-State Emergency Service advises that there are no community alerts at present. Communities between Whim Creek and Coral Bay, including communities near Karratha, Onslow and Exmouth, should listen for the next issue. Details of Tropical Cyclone Iggy at 2:00 pm WST: .Centre located near...... 16.5 degrees South 108.8 degrees East .Location accuracy........ within 55 kilometres .Recent movement.......... towards the southeast at 5 kilometres per hour .Wind gusts near centre... 100 kilometres per hour and intensifying .Severity category........ 1 .Central pressure......... 986 hectoPascals The next advice will be issued by 9:00 pm WST Thursday 26 January.Cyclone advices and State Emergency Service Community Alerts are available by dialling 1300 659 210 A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/cyclone
