Ed Dunham
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| (Former Meteorologist & CFHC Forum Moderator (Ed Passed Away on May 14, 2017)) |
| Sun Feb 24 2013 04:09 PM |
Cyclone Rusty
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Cyclone Rusty, currently at Tropical Storm strength, is located about 175 miles north of Port Hedland, Australia, at 24/12Z moving slowly to the south. Rusty should intensify to a significant tropical cyclone with sustained winds at or near 100 knots just prior to landfall at Port Hedland on Wednesday at 27/12Z.
Port Hedland is a major iron ore distribution port that normally has to shut down truck and rail ore transport whenever a cyclone of Cat I or stronger hits the area.
Weather Conditions at Port Hedland, Northwest Australia
ED
| vpbob21 |
| (Weather Guru) |
| Mon Feb 25 2013 02:52 AM |
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Re: Cyclone Rusty
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Latest satellite images indicate Rusty may be going into a rapid intensification phase. Max sustained winds (as of 21Z) are up to 60 kts. The latest forecast calls for Rusty's winds to reach at least 115 kts. before landfall, and that landfall could come very near or just east of Port Hedland. Steering currents are weak so there is still room for some track changes.
Near tropical storm force winds are already being felt in Port Hedland and outer spiral bands are affecting a several hundred km stretch of the northwest Australia shoreline.
I don't know what kind of a seawall (if any) protects Port Hedland but this looks like a large, slow-moving cyclone capable of driving a large surge. I hope everyone in the area takes this seriously.