Dangerous weather imminent as Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja begins to impact the central west coast

11/04/2021

Update on cyclone situation:

At a glance

- Tropical Cyclone Seroja is expected to cross the coast some time between 7pm and 10pm (AWST) this evening, most likely between Kalbarri and Geraldton.

- Tropical Cyclone Seroja is likely to weaken to Category 2 prior to crossing the coast, although a Severe Category 3 impact remains a slight risk.

- Damaging wind gusts are now impacting the Shark Bay area and are expected to extend south during this afternoon.

- Wind gusts of up to 165 km/hr are being experienced near the centre of the cyclone, which is expected to cross the coast somewhere between Kalbarri and Geraldton early this evening. Wind gusts of this strength are very rare for the Central West coast and can cause damage to homes and sheds, significant damage to caravans and trees, with an increased risk of power failure.

- Tropical Cyclone Seroja is now moving very quickly (around 45 kilometres per hour), towards the southeast and weather conditions will deteriorate rapidly as it approaches the coast, with the worst conditions at any one location expected to last around 3 hours.

- Whilst the system will weaken as it moves over land, wind gusts to 125 km/h may extend inland and as far as the northern Wheat Belt.

- Storm surge and large waves could cause flooding of low lying areas in the Denham and Shark Bay region and possibly near Kalbarri.

- Tropical Cyclone Seroja's unusual trajectory so far south on the west coast poses a greater risk than usual due to communities being unfamiliar with the destructive force of a tropical cyclone.

TC Seroja

People on the coast between Carnarvon and Lancelin are warned that a period of dangerous weather is now imminent, with the impact zone expected to extend inland across areas of the southern Gascoyne and Central Wheat Belt overnight. Coastal and island communities in the cyclone’s path can expect a period of unusually high tides, destructive winds and intense rainfall.

Tropical Cyclone Seroja is expected to weaken to Category 2 strength before crossing the coast some time between 7pm and 10pm (AWST) this evening, most likely between Kalbarri and Geraldton, though a Severe Category 3 impact remains a slight risk.

Destructive wind gusts of up to 165km/h are expected close to the centre of Tropical Cyclone Seroja as it crosses the coast. The most likely area to experience destructive wind gusts is on the coast between Denham to Geraldton. Wind gusts of this strength are very rare for the Central West coast and can cause damage to homes and sheds, significant damage to caravans and trees, with an increased risk of power failure.

Abnormally high tides and large waves could cause minor inundation along the coast between Carnarvon and Lancelin, increasing to serious flooding in the Denham and Shark Bay region and possibly near Kalbarri. Dangerous surf and beach erosion is expected between Denham and Geraldton.

After crossing the coast, Tropical Cyclone Seroja will bring a brief period of damaging wind gusts and heavy rain to inland areas through the southern Gascoyne, Wheat Belt, southern Goldfields and in areas around Esperance.

With Tropical Cyclone Seroja moving very quickly (around 45 kilometres per hour) as it makes landfall and moves across southern WA, weather conditions will deteriorate rapidly with the worst conditions at any one location expected to last around 3 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Seroja's unusual trajectory so far south on the west coast poses a greater risk than usual due to communities being unfamiliar with the destructive force of a tropical cyclone.

Communities in the warning area should stay up to date with all weather warnings and cyclone information on the Bureau’s website http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/warnings/, the BOM Weather app and the Emergency WA website https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/.

Forecast track of Tropical Cyclone Seroja as at 1600 Sunday: