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Main Index | 2000 Index | Current Cyclones
SUMMARY
AGENCY WARNING SUMMARIES
EXTRA INFORMATION
NOTES
Early on the 16th of April, 2000, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued the first GALE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA in a HIGH SEAS WEATHER WARNING (HSWW) on a developing 1000 hPa (hectoPascals = Millibars = MB) Tropical Low (TL) in the Timor Sea. Several subsequent warnings were issued, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), Pearl Harbour, issued a TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION ALERT on the 17th at 0021 UTC, noting that the low was showing signs of increasing organisation and was in a favourable environment for development into a Tropical Cyclone (TC).
JTWC issued TROPICAL CYCLONE 27S WARNING NR 001 on the 17th at 0900 UTC saying a TC with Maximum Sustained Winds (MSW) of 35 knots (KT), gusting to 45, KT had developed about 370 NM N of Port Hedland, and was moving S at 3 KT.
At 6:35 pm WST on Monday, 17 April 2000 [171035 UTC], BoM issued a TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION UPDATE [TCIU] saying that TC ROSITA, Severity Category 1 [Cat 1], was located at 6 pm [171000 UTC] near 14.3S 119.3E, that is 670 kilometres [km] [360 NM] N of Port Hedland and drifting slowly SSW.
Subsequent warnings were issued by both agencies showing a developing trend, and at 7:00 am WST on Tuesday, 18 April 2000 [172300 UTC], BoM issued TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 1 [TCA#1] saying that a CYCLONE WATCH is now current for coastal areas between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. At 6 am WST [172200 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 1, CP 988 hPa, was near 15.8 S 118.7 E, about 500 km [270 NM] N of Port Hedland, and was moving SSW at 15 kilometres per hour [km/hr] [8 KT] and intensifying. Wind gusts 120 km/hr [65 KT].
The next BoM advice, TCA#2, said the CYCLONE WATCH was upgraded to a CYCLONE WARNING for coastal areas between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek, with a WATCH extending N to Cape Leveque and W to Dampier, although the intensity had eased to 990 hPa with wind gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT].
The BoM continued issuing warnings showing little change until it was upgraded to Cat 2 in TCA#5, which said that at 9pm WST [181300 UTC] it was near 17.4 S 119.1 E, about 330 km [180 NM] N of Port Hedland and 340 km [185 NM] W of Broome and was moving S at 11 km/hr [6 KT] towards the coast. CP was 985 hPa with wind gusts to 125 km/hr [67 KT]. The WA State Emergency Service (SES) advises of the following community alerts: A BLUE ALERT is current from Bidyadanga[La Grange] to Whim Creek including the communities of Bidyadanga[La Grange], Sandfire, Wallal, Pardoo, Port and South Hedland, Warralong, Yandeyarra and Whim Creek.
The next significant change was seen in a FLASH warning issued by the BoM as BoM TCA#8 saying that a WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 3 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Broome and Port Hedland. A CYCLONE WATCH extends N to Cape Leveque and W to Dampier. At 6am WST on the 19th [182200 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA CP 965 hPa, was re-located near 17.4 S 119.9 E, about 255 km [140 NM] WNW of Broome and 350 km [190 NM] NNE of Port Hedland moving SE at 8 km/hr [4 KT] towards the coast. Wind gusts 180 km/hr [95 KT].
Further development was seen by BoM TCA#10 which said that WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 3 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Pardoo. At 12 noon WST on the 19th [190400 UTC], SEVERE TC ROSITA CP 950 hPa, was located near 17.5 S 120.3 E, about 210 km [115 NM] WNW of Broome and 360 km [195 NM] NNE of Port Hedland moving ESE at 10 km/hr [5 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 210 km/hr [115 KT]. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: YELLOW ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Sandfire, Wallal A BLUE ALERT: Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Pardoo.
Development had accelerated considerably, and was continuing to do so, with the BoM issuing another FLASH warning, TCA#11, which said a WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Pardoo. At 2 pm WST [190600 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.6 S 120.6 E, about 180 km [95 NM] WNW of Broome and 370 km [200 NM] NE of Port Hedland moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 260 km/hr [140 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast later today between Pardoo and Cape Leveque with very destructive gusts to 260 km/hr [140 KT] near the cyclone centre tonight.
This sudden development was also noted in JTWC#5 which said: at 190600 TC 27S (ROSITA) was within 30 NM of 17.6S 120.6E moving past 6 hours 110 deg at 6 KT. MSW - 090 KT, GUSTS 110 KT, radius of 50 KT winds - 040 NM, radius of 35 KT winds - 130 NM NE semicircle over water 100 NM elsewhere over water. REMARKS: at 190900 TC 27S was near 17.8S 120.9E, about 200 NM NE of Port Hedland, and has tracked ESE at 6 KT during the past 6 hours. Animated Satellite Imagery depicts rapid intensification over the last 6 hours evident by formation of a 14 NM diameter eye. A 190126 UTC SSMI pass indicates an eyewall with deep convection.
Some further development was seen in BoM TCA#15 which said a WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 6 pm WST [191000 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.8 S 121.0 E 125 km [67 NM] W of Broome and 220 km [120 NM] N of Wallal and moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tonight between Wallal and Cape Leveque with very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange] around midnight [191600 UTC].
The cyclone began impacting on the coast as seen in BoM TCA#19 which said a WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 10 pm WST [191400 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 18.0 S 121.7 E, about 55 km [30 NM] W of Broome and moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] between Wallal and Cape Leveque are expected to increase to very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast just to the S of Broome between midnight and 3 am WST [191600 - 191900 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin. YELLOW ALERT: Pardoo, Eighty Mile Beach, Sandfire, Wallal, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point. A BLUE ALERT: Derby, Looma Community, Pandanus Park, Willare, Nookanbah, Camballin.
The ABC LOCAL NEWS for North WA reported at 0:47 WST on the 20th: Broome residents on alert as Rosita approaches. Western Australian police are warning residents in the state's Kimberley region to stay inside as Cyclone Rosita crosses the coast. The cyclone has already caused some damage and could bring with it a storm surge and flooding. Broome is starting to feel the full force of Tropical Cyclone Rosita. The cyclone is due to cross the coast just S of Broome, bringing with it winds of up to 270 km/hr [145 KT]. There have already been reports of trees being knocked down, rooves being torn off and back sheds being blown into neighbours' yards. Police in Broome are alarmed at reports that people are driving around in the cyclone. Their advice is to go inside and stay there until the all-clear is given later this morning.
Coastal crossing was around 1 am on the 20th [191700 UTC], as seen in BoM TCA#22 which said a WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 1am WST [191700 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA CP 930 hPa, was crossing the coast near 18.3 S 122.2 E, about 40 km [22 NM] S of Broome, moving ESE at 18 km/hr [10 NM]. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 NM] between Wallal and Cape Leveque are expected to increase to very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The cyclone is expected to move further inland towards Dampier Downs during the morning and weaken steadily. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide as the cyclone centre crosses the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin. YELLOW ALERT: Eighty Mile Beach, Sandfire, Wallal, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point. A BLUE ALERT: Derby, Looma Community, Pandanus Park, Willare, Nookanbah, Camballin.
After crossing the coast, it began to weaken, as seen in BoM TCA#24, which said a WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 3 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange], extending inland into northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. At 3am WST [191900 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 3, CP 945 hPa, had crossed the coast and was located near 18.5 S 122.5 E, about 65 km [35 NM] SSE of Broome, and 95 km [51 NM] W of Dampier Downs, moving ESE at 20 km/hr [11 KT]. Wind gusts 210 km/hr [115 KT]. Gales with gusts to 90 km/hr [49 KT] are expected between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange], increasing to very destructive winds with gusts to 210 [115 NM] near the cyclone centre. The cyclone will weaken as it moves further inland and is expected to be about 50 km [27 NM] SW of Dampier Downs at 6am [192200 UTC]. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the western Kimberley. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga [La Grange].
An ABC NATIONAL RADIO NEWS bulletin at 5 AM AEST [3 AM WST = 191900 UTC]: Broome escapes worst of Cyclone Rosita. The town of Broome, on Western Australia's Kimberley coast, appears to have escaped the worst of Cyclone Rosita, which crossed the coast early this morning. The weather bureau says Broome was extremely lucky to escape the worst of Tropical Cyclone Rosita. Although the cyclone has caused considerable damage, the maximum wind gust recorded in the town was 143 km/hr [77 KT], compared to 240 km/hr [130 KT] closer to the cyclone's centre. The cyclone crossed the coast 35 km [19 NM] S of Broome at about 1:00am AWST [191700 UTC]. The winds are now expected to abate quickly as Rosita moves inland and into the Great Sandy Desert. Heavy rain from the storm is expected to cause widespread flooding. The cyclone is expected to bring with it an 8.5 metre [28 feet] high tide which could combine to produce a storm surge and flooding. Seas off the coast have been mountainous, with residents saying they have not witnessed such condition in 14 years. Broome police last night evacuated low-lying areas of the town. About 250 people were also relocated from the Bidyadanga Community, south of Broome, to Port Hedland. Police aide John Birch says others have chosen to stay and are taking shelter in the community's church and school. "If they want to leave they can do so; some are staying put in their houses in the community," he said.
Coastal crossing and subsequent weakening was also noted in JTWC#6, which said that at 191800 UTC TC 27S (ROSITA) was within 30 NM of 18.4S 122.3E moving past 6 hours 115 deg at 9 KT. MSW - 125 KT, GUSTS 150 KT, radius of 100 KT winds - 30 NM over water, radius of 50 KT winds - 060 NM over water, radius of 35 KT winds - 160 NM NE semicircle over water 130 NM elsewhere over water. REMARKS: at 192100 UTC TC 27S was near 18.7S 122.6E. It made landfall at 191630 UTC about 26 NM SSW of Broome. A 191548 UTC TRMM pass depicted a symmetric eyewall with a banding feature W of the eye. TC 27S is now located about 32 NM S of Broome, and has tracked ESE at 9 KT during the past 6 hours. Position based on 191730 UTC Infrared Satellite Imagery and data from the Broome radar, with satellite current intensity estimates of 125 KT. Animated Satellite Imagery depicts slight weakening of TC 27S over the past 3 hours as it moves inland. Prior to landfall, it had rapidly intensified and maintained a 10 - 14 NM diameter round eye. The Broome radar loop indicates a slight decrease in intensity but very little change in the eyewall structure and storm shape.
The weakening trend continued as Rosita moved further inland as seen in BoM TCA#26 which said a WARNING for a CATEGORY 2 CYCLONE is now current for northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. At 7am WST [192300 UTC] TC ROSITA CP 975 hPa, was located near 18.8 S 123.2 E, about 135 km [73 NM] SE of Broome, and 40 km [22 NM] SW of Dampier Downs, moving ESE at 20 km/hr [11 KT]. Wind gusts 150 km/hr [80 KT]. Gales with gusts to 90 km/hr [49 KT] are expected within 60 km [32 NM] of the centre, increasing to destructive winds with gusts to 150 [80 KT] within 20 km [11 NM] of the centre. The cyclone will continue to weaken as it moves further inland and is expected to be about 50 km [27 NM] S of Dampier Downs at 9am [200100 UTC]. Heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the southwestern Kimberley. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga [La Grange].
And it had weakened further by BoM TCA#27 which said a WARNING for a CATEGORY 1 CYCLONE is now current for northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. At 9 am WST [200100 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 1, CP 990 hPa, was located about 175 km [95 NM] SE of Broome, moving ESE at 20 km/hr [11 KT]. Wind gusts 120 km/hr [65 KT]. Gales with gusts to 120 km/hr [65 KT] are expected within 60 km [32 NM] of the centre, however the cyclone is continuing to weaken as it moves inland. Heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the Great Sandy Desert area. The WA SES advises that all community alerts have been lifted.
BoM TCA#28 was the FINAL WARNING for a CATEGORY 1 CYCLONE for northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. At noon WST [200400 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 1, CP 995 hPa, was located near 19.4 S 124.1 E, about 250 km [135 NM] SE of Broome, moving ESE at 25 km/hr [13 KT]. Wind gusts 90 km/hr [49 KT]. Gales with gusts to 90 km/hr [49 KT] may occur in the next few hours near the centre, however ROSITA should weaken to below TC strength during the afternoon.
JTWC#7 said that at 200600 UTC TC 27S (ROSITA) was within 40 NM of 19.5S 124.7E moving past 6 hours 115 deg at 12 KT. MSW 50 KT, GUSTS 65 KT, dissipating as a significant TC over land, radius of 35 KT winds - 70 NM NE semicircle over water 45 NM elsewhere over water. REMARKS: at 200900 UTC TC 27S was near 19.9S 125.2E, now located about 167 NM SE of Broome, and has tracked ESE at 12 KT during the past 6 hours. Position based on 200530 Visible and Infrared Satellite Imagery and synoptic data, with current satellite intensity estimates of 55 KT and synoptic reports of 50 KT. Animated Visible Satellite Imagery shows rapid weakening of the system during the past 6 hours. Deep convection is now confined to a small area just S of the LLCC. It will continue to track ESE over the Great Sandy Desert and dissipate by the end of the period. This is the final warning on this system.
An ABC NEWS bulletin at 7:33 PM AEST on the 20th [200933 UTC] reported:
Broome without power after battering by cyclone.
It could take between 24 and 36 hours to restore electricity supplies to the Kimberley town of Broome, after damage caused by tropical cyclone Rosita. Destructive winds from Rosita brought down power lines in the town, as the category four cyclone crossed the coast 40 kilometres [22 NM] south of Broome at 1:00am AWST [191700 UTC].
State Emergency Service spokesman Gordon Tiddums says they are quite lucky Rosita did not hit the town directly. He says the clean-up is expected to take days. "The situation in Broome at present is not too bad actually the emergency services and the local emergency services conducted their assessment of the area and the clean-up has started," Mr Tiddums said. Authorities in the town say several boats, including an historic 80 year old pearl lugger, broke their moorings at the height of last night's storm.
Meanwhile Western Power says cyclone Rosita has caused extensive damage to its power distribution system in Broome. A spokesman says all the major feeder lines through the town are damaged and require extensive repair work. Extra staff are being moved into Broome from Kununurra and Port Hedland. The spokesman says it is difficult to estimate how long it will take to restore power supplies until an assessment of the damage has been completed.
The crop at Broome's only banana plantation has been almost completely lost in the gales. Stephen Gray from Broome Bananas says he has only 10 plants left out of 18,000. Mr Gray says his business will lose income for the next 12 months. He says the cyclone has devastated his property. "What was about four to five metre [30 to 16 feet] tall banana plantation is now about a metre [3 feet] tall. "It is like an atom bomb has hit it," Mr Gray said.
Broome resident for 16 years Chris Wright says some of the sights around town are unbelievable. "Down at Entrance Point - where people launch their boat near the jetty near the port - there is the whole car park is littered with large rocks, that you know the average person would find difficult to pick up," Mr Wright said. "The tidal surge has come up over the top of the concrete ramp into the carpark and the whole carpark is just littered with rocks and sand."
The devastation caused the cyclone to the WA holiday town comes as a major blow to its tourism industry on the eve of the busy Easter break. Portsmith Caravan Park manager Marg Green says already they have had up to 12 cancellations from people booked to stay at the caravan park over Easter.
END SUMMARY
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At 0535 UTC 16 April 2000, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre Perth, Western Australia, issued a HIGH SEAS WEATHER WARNING (HSWW) saying: GALE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. Tropical low (TL) central pressure (CP) 1000 hPa (hectoPascals = millibars = MB) located at 0400UTC Within 60 nautical miles (NM) of 13.2S 118.2E and moving WSW at 8 knots (KT). TL may develop into a tropical cyclone (TC) during next 12 to 24 hours causing 30/45 KT winds within 90 NM of centre with rough seas, moderate swell. Next warning issued 1100 UTC 16 April 2000.
The next BoM HSSW said: GALE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TL CP 1000 hPa located at 161000 UTC Within 60 NM of 13.4S 118.0E and moving SW at 4 KT. TL may develop into a TC during next 12 to 24 hours causing 30/45 KT winds within 90 NM of centre with rough seas, moderate swell. Next warning issued 1700 UTC 16 April 2000.
The following BoM HSWW said: GALE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TL CP 1000 hPa relocated at 161600 UTC Within 60 NM of 14.2S 119.2E and moving S at 4 KT. TL may develop into a tropical cyclone during next 12 to 24 hours causing 30/45 KT winds within 90 NM of centre with rough seas, moderate swell. Next warning issued 2300 UTC 16 April 2000
The next BoM HSWW said: GALE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TL CP 1000 hPa located at 162200 UTC Within 60 NM of 14.1S 119.4E and moving S at 2 KT. TL may develop into a TC during next 12 to 24 hours causing 30/45 KT winds within 90 NM of centre with rough seas, moderate swell. Next warning issued 0500 UTC 17 April 2000
The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), Pearl Harbor, issued a TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION ALERT at 170021 UTC saying: Formation of a significant TC is possible within 125 NM either side of a line from 13.0S 119.9E to 18.0S 116.0E within the next 6 to 24 hours. Available data does not justify issuance of numbered TC warnings at this time. Winds in the area are estimated to be 25 to 30 KT. METSAT imagery at 162301 indicates that a circulation center is located near 14.5S 118.6E, moving SW at 6 KT. REMARKS: The area of convection previously located near 14.0S 119.5E is now located near 14.5S 118.6E. ANIMATED VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY (AVSI) depicts a partially exposed LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER (LLCC) situated on the N edge of the deep convection. INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGERY (IRSI) depicts steadily improving organisation with deep convection wrapping in to the LLCC from the NW. Imagery also indicates that the area has good inflow. ANIMATED WATER VAPOR IMAGERY (AWVI) shows good outflow aloft. The THE UW-CIMSS and 200 MB ANALYSIS indicate that the area is within a favourable environment for further development. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS (MSW) are estimated at 25 to 30 KT. MINIMUM SEA LEVEL PRESSURE (MSLP) is estimated to be near 1001 MB. The potential for development of a significant TC within the next 24 hours is now good. Ths alert valid until 180030 UTC.
The next BoM HSWW said: GALE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TL CP 1000 hPa located at 170400 UTC Within 60 NM of 14.1S 119.4E and stationary. TL may develop into a TC during next 12 hours causing 30/45 KT winds within 90 NM of centre with rough seas, moderate swell. Next warning issued 1100 UTC 17 April 2000
JTWC TROPICAL CYCLONE 27S WARNING NR 001 (#1) said: at 170600 UTC TC 27S was within 60 NM of 14.1S 119.6E, past 6 hours moving 180 DEGREES (deg) at 3 KTS, MSW - 035 KT, GUSTS 045 KT. REMARKS: at 170900 UTC it was near 14.2S 119.5E. The area of convection W of the Kimberly coast of Australia developed into TC 27S, located about 370 NM N of Port Hedland, and tracked S at 3 KT during the past 6 hours. Position based on 170530 UTC VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY (VSI) and current satellite intensity estimates of 35 KT. ANIMATED MULTI-SPECTRAL IMAGERY (AMSI) depicts an increase in areal coverage over the past 12 hours, however convection has shown improved organisation only during the past 6 hours. It appears that there are 2 symmetric shaped regions of deep convection to the N and S of the LLCC. The system is positioned just to the S of the subtropical ridge axis. Low/mid level ridge situated over the Northern Territory is forecast to build over the Kimberley coast during the next 24 hours providing a SW track for TC 27S. It should intensify at a near climatological rate as the system tracks S of the ridge axis.
At 6:35 pm WST on Monday, 17 April 2000 [171035 UTC], BoM issued a TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION UPDATE [TCIU] saying : TC ROSITA, Severity Category 1 [Cat 1], was located at 6 pm [171000 UTC] near 14.3S 119.3E, that is 670 kilometres [km] [360 NM] N of Port Hedland and drifting slowly SSW. The cyclone is not expected to affect the WA coast within the next 48 hours. The next advice will be issued at 1am Tuesday morning [171700 UTC].
BoM also issued a HSWW saying: GALE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TC ROSITA CP 995 hPa located at 171000 UTC Within 50 NM of 14.3S 119.3E and moving slowly SSW. TC causing 30/45 KT winds within 90 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, moderate swell. Next warning issued 1700 UTC 17 April 2000
The next BoM TCIU said: TC ROSITA, Cat 1, was located at midnight on the 18th [171600 UTC] near 14.7S 119.0E, that is 625 km [335 NM] N of Port Hedland and moving slowly SSW. The cyclone is not expected to affect the WA coast within the next 48 hours. The next advice will be issued at 7am Tuesday morning [172300 UTC].
The BoM also issued a HSWW said: STORM WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TC ROSITA CP 990 hPa located at 171600UTC Within 50 NM of 14.7S 119.0E and moving SSW at 4 KT. TC causing 30/45 KT winds within 90 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, moderate swell. Winds within 30 NM of centre expected to increase to 50/55 KT during next 12 to 18 hours with high seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 2300 UTC 17 April 2000
JTWC#2 said: at 171800 UTC TC 27S (ROSITA) was within 60 NM of 15.7S 118.3E past 6 hours moving 225 deg at 14 KT, MSW - 050 KT, GUSTS 065 KT radius 035 KT winds - 100 NM SE semicircle 75 NM elsewhere. REMARKS: at 172100 UTC it was near 15.9S 118.2E, about 275 NM N of Port Hedland tracking SW at 14 KT during the past 6 hours. Position based on 171730 UTC IRSI with current satellite intensity estimates of 45 and 55 KT. ASI depicts continued increases in areal coverage as well as organisation about the LLCC. The system is beginning to move through a weakness in the sub-tropical ridge, and is forecast to continue S through the weakness. TC 27S has intensified rapidly over the past 12 hours, and should continue this rapid rate as it moves closer to landfall. The intensity will peak near the end of the forecast as it moves into an increased vertical wind shear environment.
At 7:00 am WST on Tuesday, 18 April 2000 [172300 UTC], BoM issued TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 1 [TCA#1] saying: A CYCLONE WATCH is now current for coastal areas between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. At 6 am WST [172200 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 1, CP 988 hPa, was near 15.8 S 118.7 E, about 500 km [270 NM] N of Port Hedland, and was moving SSW at 15 kilometres per hour [km/hr] [8 KT] and intensifying. Wind gusts 120 km/hr [65 KT]. Gales are not expected on the coast today but could develop later on Wednesday. The next advice will be issued at 10am this morning [180200 UTC].
BoM also issued a HSWW saying: STORM WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TC ROSITA CP 986 hPa located at 172200 UTC Within 50 NM of 15.8S 118.7E and moving SSW at 8 KT. TC causing 30/45 KT winds within 90 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, moderate swell. Winds within 30 NM of centre expected to increase to 50/55 KT during next 12 hours with high seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 0500 UTC 18 April 2000
BoM TCA#2 said: A WARNING for a Cat 1 cyclone is now current for coastal areas between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. A CYCLONE WATCH extends N to Cape Leveque and W to Dampier. At noon WST [180400 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 1, CP 990 hPa, was near 16.5 S 119.0 E, about 425 km [230 NM] N of Port Hedland and 380 km [205 NM] WNW of Broome moving S at 11 km/hr [6 KT] towards the coast. Wind gusts 100 km/hr [55 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tomorrow between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek tomorrow. The next advice will be issued at 4 pm this afternoon [180800 UTC].
BoM also issued a HSWW saying: STORM WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TC ROSITA CP 990 hPa located at 180400UTC Within 50 NM of 16.5S 119.0E and moving S at 6 KT. TC causing 30/45 KT winds within 60 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, moderate swell. Winds within 30 NM of centre expected to increase to 50/55 KT during next 12 hours with high seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 1100 UTC 18 April 2000
BoM TCA#3 said: A WARNING for a Cat 1 cyclone is now current for coastal areas between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. A CYCLONE WATCH extends N to Cape Leveque and W to Dampier. At 3pm WST [180700 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 1, CP 990 hPa, was near 16.8 S 119.0 E, about 395 km [215 NM] N of Port Hedland and 365 km [195 NM] WNW of Broome and was moving S at 11 km/hr [6 KT] towards the coast. Wind gusts 120 km/hr [65 KT]. Gales with gusts to 120 km/hr [65 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tomorrow between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. The cyclone is expected to intensify to Cat 2 overnight and may intensify further tomorrow as it approaches the coast. The WA State Emergency Service [WA SES] advises of the following community alerts: A BLUE ALERT is current from Bidyadanga[La Grange] to Whim Creek including the communities of Bidyadanga[La Grange], Sandfire, Wallal, Pardoo, Port and South Hedland, Warralong, Yandeyarra and Whim Creek. The next advice will be issued at 7 pm this evening [181100 UTC].
JTWC#3 said: at 180600UTC TC 27S (ROSITA) was within 60 NM of 16.5S 119.0E, past 6 hours moving 180 deg at 4 KT, MSW - 050 KT, GUSTS 065 KT, radius of 35 KT WINDS - 100 NM SE semicircle 75 NM elsewhere. REMARKS: at 180900 UTC iy was near 16.7S 119.0E, about 230 NM N of Port Hedland and has tracked S at 4 KT during past 6 hours, position based on 180530 UTC VISIBLE and IRSI, with current satellite intensity estimates of 45 and 55 KT. ASI depicts a partially exposed LLCC with good outflow in the upper levels. The system is continuing to move through a weakness in the sub-tropical ridge, and is forecast to continue moving S through the weakness. TC 27S has maintained intensity over the past 12 hours and is forecast to slowly intensify as it moves closer to land, making landfall E of Port Hedland bear the 36 hour forecast position. After making landfall it will begin to weaken due to interaction with land and an increased vertical wind shear environment.
BoM TCA#4 said: A WARNING for a Cat 1 cyclone is now current for coastal areas between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. A CYCLONE WATCH extends N to Cape Leveque and W to Dampier. At 6pm WST [181000 UTC], TC ROSITA, Cat 1, CP 990 hPa, was near 17.1 S 119.1 E, about 360 km [195 NM] N of Port Hedland and 345 km [185 NM] WNW of Broome and was moving S at 11 km/hr [6 KT] towards the coast. Gales with gusts to 120 km/hr [65 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tomorrow between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. The cyclone is expected to intensify to Cat 2 overnight and may intensify further tomorrow as it approaches the coast. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: A BLUE ALERT is current from Bidyadanga[La Grange] to Whim Creek including the communities of Bidyadanga[La Grange], Sandfire, Wallal, Pardoo, Port and South Hedland, Warralong, Yandeyarra and Whim Creek. The next advice will be issued at 10 pm this evening [181400 UTC].
The BoM also issued a HSWW saying: STORM WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TC ROSITA CP 990 hPa located at 181000 UTC Within 30 NM of 17.1S 119.1E and moving S at 6 KT. TC causing 30/45 KT winds within 60 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, moderate swell. Winds within 30 NM of centre expected to increase to 50/55 KT during next 6 to 12 hours with high seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 1700 UTC 18 April 2000
BoM TCA#5 said: A WARNING for a Cat 2 cyclone is now current for coastal areas between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. A CYCLONE WATCH extends N to Cape Leveque and W to Dampier. At 9pm WST [181300 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 2, CP 985 hPa, was near 17.4 S 119.1 E, about 330 km [180 NM] N of Port Hedland and 340 km [185 NM] W of Broome and was moving S at 11 km/hr [6 KT] towards the coast. Wind gusts 125 km/hr [67 KT]. Gales with gusts to 125 km/hr [67 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tomorrow between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. The cyclone has intensified to Cat 2 and may intensify further tomorrow as it approaches the coast. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: A BLUE ALERT is current from Bidyadanga[La Grange] to Whim Creek including the communities of Bidyadanga[La Grange], Sandfire, Wallal, Pardoo, Port and South Hedland, Warralong, Yandeyarra and Whim Creek. The next advice will be issued at 1 am Wednesday morning.
BoM TCA#6 said: A WARNING for a Category 2 cyclone is now current for coastal areas between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. A CYCLONE WATCH extends N to Cape Leveque and W to Dampier. At midnight WST 19th [181600 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 2, CP 985 hPa, was near 17.5 S 119.0 E, about 315 km [170 NM] N of Port Hedland and 345 km [185 NM] W of Broome and was moving S at 8 km/hr [4 KT] towards the coast. Wind gusts 125 km/hr [67 KT]. Gales with gusts to 125 km/hr [67 KT] are expected to develop on the coast later today between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. The cyclone has intensified to Cat 2 and may intensify further today as it approaches the coast. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: A BLUE ALERT is current from Bidyadanga[La Grange] to Whim Creek including the communities of Bidyadanga[La Grange], Sandfire, Wallal, Pardoo, Port and South Hedland, Warralong, Yandeyarra and Whim Creek. The next advice will be issued at 4 am this morning.
The BoM also issued a HSWW saying: STORM WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TC ROSITA CP 985 hPa located at 181600UTC Within 30 NM of 17.5S 119.0E and moving S at 4 knots. TC causing 30/45 KT winds within 60 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, moderate swell. Winds within 30 NM of centre expected to increase to 50/55 KT within the next 6 hours with high seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 2300 UTC 18 April 2000
BoM TCA#7 said: A WARNING for a Cat 2 cyclone is now current for coastal areas between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. A CYCLONE WATCH extends N to Cape Leveque and W to Dampier. At 3am WST [181900 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 2, CP 985 hPa, was re-located near 17.5 S 119.5 E, about 325 km [175 NM] NNE of Port Hedland and 295 km [160 NM] W of Broome and was moving SSE at 8 km/hr [4 KT] towards the coast. Wind gusts 125 km/hr [67 KT]. Gales with gusts to 125 km/hr [67 KT] are expected to develop on the coast later today between La Grange [Bidyadanga] and Whim Creek. The cyclone is expected to intensify today as it approaches the coast. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: A BLUE ALERT is current from Bidyadanga[La Grange] to Whim Creek including the communities of Bidyadanga[La Grange], Sandfire, Wallal, Pardoo, Port and South Hedland, Warralong, Yandeyarra and Whim Creek. The next advice will be issued at 7 am this morning [182300 UTC].
JTWC#4 said: at 181800 UTC TC 27S (ROSITA) was within 60 NM of 17.7S 119.5E moving past 6 hours 135 deg at 7 KT, MSW - 65 KT, GUSTS 080 KT, radius of 50 KT winds - 35 NM, radius of 35 KT winds - 110 NM E semicircle 80 NM elsewhere. REMARKS: at 182100 UTC it was near 18.0S 119.7E, about 160 NM NNE of Port Hedland, and has tracked SSE at 7 KT during the past 6 hours. Position based on 181730 UTC IRSI with current satellite intensity estimates of 45 and 55 KT. ASI depicts strong convection, becoming increasingly organised about the LLCC. The system is continuing to move through a weakness in the sub-tropical ridge and is forecast to continue S through the forecast period. TC 27S has intensified over the past 12 hours and will continue to intensify until landfall over the Eighty Mile Beach near the 18 hour forecast position. After landfall, it will begin to weaken due to interaction with land and an increased vertical wind shear environment.
BoM TCA#8 said: FLASH TOP PRIORITY. Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 3 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Broome and Port Hedland. A CYCLONE WATCH extends N to Cape Leveque and W to Dampier. At 6am WST [182200 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 3, CP 965 hPa, was re-located near 17.4 S 119.9 E, about 255 km [140 NM] WNW of Broome and 350 km [190 NM] NNE of Port Hedland moving SE at 8 km/hr [4 KT] towards the coast. Wind gusts 180 km/hr [95 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr 55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast later today between Port Hedland and Broome with destructive gusts to 180 km/hr [95 KT] developing tonight. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: A BLUE ALERT is current from Broome to Port Hedland including the communities of Broome, Bidyadanga[La Grange], Sandfire, Wallal, Pardoo, Warralong and Port and South Hedland. The next advice will be issued at 10 am this morning [190200 UTC].
The BoM also issued a HSWW saying: HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. TC ROSITA CP 965 hPa relocated at 182200UTC Within 30 NM of 17.4S 119.9E and moving SE at 4 KT. TC causing 35/50 KT winds within 60 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, heavy swell increasing to 50/70 KT within 30 NM of centre with high to phenomenal seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 0500 UTC 19 April 2000
BoM TCA#9 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 3 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Port Hedland. The CYCLONE WATCH W to Dampier has been cancelled. At 9am WST [190100 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 3, CP 965 hPa, was located near 17.6 S 120.0 E, about 240 km [130 NM] W of Broome and 335 km [180 NM] NNE of Port Hedland moving SE at 10 km/hr [5 NM] towards the coast. Wind gusts 180 km/hr [95 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast later today between Port Hedland and Broome with destructive gusts to 180 km/hr [95 KT] developing tonight. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Port Hedland and Broome, including the De Grey River catchment. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: A BLUE ALERT is current between Cape Leveque and Port Hedland including the communities of Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Broome, Bidyadanga[La Grange], Sandfire, Wallal, Pardoo, Warralong and Port and South Hedland. The next advice will be issued at 1 pm this afternoon [190500 UTC].
BoM TCA#10 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 3 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Pardoo. At 12 noon WST [190400 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 3, CP 950 hPa, was located near 17.5 S 120.3 E, about 210 km [115 NM] WNW of Broome and 360 km [195 NM] NNE of Port Hedland moving ESE at 10 km/hr [5 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 210 km/hr [115 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast later today between Pardoo and Cape Leveque with very destructive gusts to 210 km/hr [115 KT] near the cyclone centre tonight. The centre is expected to cross the coast between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange] early tomorrow morning. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Pardoo and Cape Leveque, including the De Grey River catchment. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: YELLOW ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Sandfire, Wallal A BLUE ALERT: Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Pardoo. The next advice will be issued at 4 pm this afternoon [190800 UTC].
The BoM also issued a HSWW saying: HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. SEVERE TC ROSITA CP 950 hPa located at 190400UTC Within 10 NM of 17.5S 120.3E and moving ESE at 5 KT. TC causing 35/50 KT winds within 80 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, heavy swell increasing to 80 KT within 30 NM of centre with phenomenal seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 1100 UTC 19 April 2000.
BoM TCA#11 said: FLASH TOP PRIORITY. Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Pardoo. At 2 pm WST [190600 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.6 S 120.6 E, about 180 km [95 NM] WNW of Broome and 370 km [200 NM] NE of Port Hedland moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 260 km/hr [140 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast later today between Pardoo and Cape Leveque with very destructive gusts to 260 km/hr [140 KT] near the cyclone centre tonight. The centre is expected to cross the coast between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange] overnight. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Pardoo and Cape Leveque, including the De Grey River catchment. The WA State Emergency Service advises of the following community alerts: YELLOW ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Sandfire, Wallal A BLUE ALERT: Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Pardoo. The next advice will be issued at 3 pm this afternoon [190700 UTC].
BoM TCA#12 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 3 pm WST [190700 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.7 S 120.7 E, about 165 km [90 NM] W of Broome moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 260 km/hr [140 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast later today between Wallal and Cape Leveque with very destructive winds with gusts to 260 km/hr [140 KT] near the cyclone centre tonight. The centre is expected to cross the coast between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange] overnight. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque, including the De Grey River catchment. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: YELLOW ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Sandfire, Wallal A BLUE ALERT: Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Pardoo. The next advice will be issued at 4 pm this afternoon [190800 UTC].
The BoM also issued a HSWW saying: HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. SEVERE TC ROSITA CP 930 hPa located at 190700UTC Within 10 NM of 17.7S 120.7E and moving ESE at 8 KT. TC causing 35/50 KT winds within 70 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, heavy swell increasing to 100 KT within 30 NM of centre with phenomenal seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 1100 UTC 19 April 2000
BoM TCA#13 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 4 pm WST [160800 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.8 S 120.9 E, about 140 km [75 NM] W of Broome moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 260 km/hr [140 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast later today between Wallal and Cape Leveque with very destructive winds with gusts to 260 km/hr [140 KT] near the cyclone centre tonight. The centre is expected to cross the coast between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange] around midnight [191600 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: YELLOW ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Sandfire, Wallal A BLUE ALERT: Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Pardoo. The next advice will be issued at 5 pm this afternoon [190900 UTC].
BoM TCA#14 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 5 pm WST [190900 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.8 S 121.0 E, about 130 km [70 NM] W of Broome and 225 km [120 NM] N of Wallal and moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 260 km/hr [140 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tonight between Wallal and Cape Leveque with very destructive winds with gusts to 260 km/hr [140 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange] around midnight [191600 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: YELLOW ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Sandfire, Wallal A BLUE ALERT: Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Pardoo. The next advice will be issued at 6 pm this afternoon [191000 UTC].
JTWC#5 said: at 190600 TC 27S (ROSITA) was within 30 NM of 17.6S 120.6E moving past 6 hours 110 deg at 6 KT. MSW - 090 KT, GUSTS 110 KT, radius of 50 KT winds - 040 NM, radius of 35 KT winds - 130 NM NE semicircle over water 100 NM elsewhere over water. REMARKS: at 190900 TC 27S was near 17.8S 120.9E, about 200 NM NE of Port Hedland, and has tracked ESE at 6 KT during the past 6 hours. The position is based on 190530 UTC VISIBLE and IRSI, with intensity estimates of 77 and 90 KT. ASI depicts rapid intensification over the last 6 hours evident by formation of a 14 NM diameter eye. A 190126 UTC SSMI pass indicates an eyewall with deep convection. The system is continuing to move through a weakness in he sub-tropical ridge, and is forecast to continue tracking SE through the forecast period. TC 27S has intensified over the past 12 hours, and will continue to intensify during the next 12 to 18 hours until landfall. After landfall it will begin to weaken due to interaction with land and an increased vertical wind shear environment.
BoM TCA#15 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 6 pm WST [191000 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.8 S 121.0 E 125 km [67 NM] W of Broome and 220 km [120 NM] N of Wallal and moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tonight between Wallal and Cape Leveque with very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange] around midnight [191600 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: YELLOW ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Sandfire, Wallal, Djarindjin A BLUE ALERT: Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Pardoo, Eighty Mile Beach. The next advice will be issued at 7 pm this afternoon [190100 UTC].
The BoM also issued a HSWW saying: HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. SEVERE TC ROSITA CP 930 hPa located at 191000UTC Within 10 NM of 17.8S 121.0E and moving ESE at 8 KT. TC causing 35/50 KT winds within 65 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, heavy swell increasing to 100 KT within 30 NM of centre with phenomenal seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 1700 UTC 19 April 2000
BoM TCA#16 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 7 pm WST [191100 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.8 S 121.2 E, about 110 km [60 NM] W of Broome and 230 km [125 NM] NNE of Wallal and moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tonight between Wallal and Cape Leveque with very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange] around midnight [191600 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: YELLOW ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Sandfire, Wallal, Djarindjin, Lombadina A BLUE ALERT: Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Beagle Bay, Pardoo, Eighty Mile Beach. The next advice will be issued at 8 pm tonight [191200 UTC].
BoM TCA#17 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 8 pm WST [191200 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.9 S 121.4 E, about 90 km [50 NM] W of Broome and 225 km [120 NM] NNE of Wallal and moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tonight between Wallal and Cape Leveque with very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast just to the S of Broome between midnight and 3 am WST [191600 - 191900 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Lombadina, Beagle Bay. YELLOW ALERT: Pardoo, Eighty Mile Beach, Sandfire, Wallal, Djarindjin, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point. A BLUE ALERT: Derby. The next advice will be issued at 9 pm tonight [191300 UTC].
BoM TCA#18 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 9 pm WST [191300 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 17.9 S 121.5 E, about 80 km [43 NM] W of Broome and 230 km [125 NM] NNE of Wallal and is now moving E at 15 km/hr towards Broome. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected to develop on the coast tonight between Wallal and Cape Leveque with very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast just to the S of Broome between midnight and 3 am WST [191600 - 191900 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin. YELLOW ALERT: Pardoo, Eighty Mile Beach, Sandfire, Wallal, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point. A BLUE ALERT: Derby. The next advice will be issued at 10 pm tonight [191400 UTC].
BoM TCA#19 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 10 pm WST [191400 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 18.0 S 121.7 E, about 55 km [30 NM] W of Broome and moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards Broome. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] between Wallal and Cape Leveque are expected to increase to very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast just to the S of Broome between midnight and 3 am WST [191600 - 191900 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin. YELLOW ALERT: Pardoo, Eighty Mile Beach, Sandfire, Wallal, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point. A BLUE ALERT: Derby, Looma Community, Pandanus Park, Willare, Nookanbah, Camballin. The next advice will be issued at 11 pm tonight [191500 UTC].
BoM TCA#20 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 11 pm WST SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 18.1 S 121.9 E, about 40 km [22 NM] WSW of Broome and moving ESE at 15 km/hr [8 KT] towards the coast. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] between Wallal and Cape Leveque are expected to increase to very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast to the S of Broome between midnight and 3 am WST [191600 - 191900 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin. YELLOW ALERT: Eighty Mile Beach, Sandfire, Wallal, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point. A BLUE ALERT: Derby, Looma Community, Pandanus Park, Willare, Nookanbah, Camballin. The next advice will be issued at midnight [191600 UTC].
BoM TCA#21 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At midnight WST 20th [191600 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was located near 18.2 S 122.0 E, about 35 km [19 NM] SW of Broome and moving ESE at 18 km/hr [10 KT] towards the coast. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] between Wallal and Cape Leveque are expected to increase to very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The centre is expected to cross the coast to the S of Broome about 1am [191700 UTC]. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approaches the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin. YELLOW ALERT: Eighty Mile Beach, Sandfire, Wallal, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point. A BLUE ALERT: Derby, Looma Community, Pandanus Park, Willare, Nookanbah, Camballin. The next advice will be issued at 1 am Thursday [191700 UTC].
The BoM also issued a HSWW saying: HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. SEVER TC ROSITA CP 930 hPa located at 1600UTC Within 10 NM of 18.2S 122.0E and moving ESE at 10 KT. TC causing 35/50 KT winds within 50 NM of centre with rough to very rough seas, heavy swell increasing to 100 KT within 15 NM of centre with phenomenal seas, heavy swell. Next warning issued 2300 UTC 19 April 2000
BoM TCA#22 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Cape Leveque and Wallal. At 1am WST [191700 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 930 hPa, was crossing the coast near 18.3 S 122.2 E, about 40 km [22 NM] S of Broome, moving ESE at 18 km/hr [10 NM]. Wind gusts 270 km/hr [145 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 NM] between Wallal and Cape Leveque are expected to increase to very destructive winds with gusts to 270 km/hr [145 KT] near the cyclone centre. The cyclone is expected to move further inland towards Dampier Downs during the morning and weaken steadily. Coastal communities within 50 km [27 NM] N of the cyclone centre are warned of the dangerous storm tide as the cyclone centre crosses the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the expected level with damaging waves and dangerous flooding. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the area between Wallal and Cape Leveque. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin. YELLOW ALERT: Eighty Mile Beach, Sandfire, Wallal, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point. A BLUE ALERT: Derby, Looma Community, Pandanus Park, Willare, Nookanbah, Camballin. The next advice will be issued at 2 am this morning [191800 UTC].
BoM TCA#23 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange], extending inland into northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. At 2am WST [191800 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 4, CP 935 hPa, had crossed the coast and was located near 18.4 S 122.3 E, about 50 km [27 NM] SSE of Broome, moving ESE at 20 km/hr [11 KT]. Wind gusts 240 [130 KT]. Gales with gusts to 100 km/hr [55 KT] are expected between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange], increasing to very destructive winds with gusts to 240 km/hr [130 KT] near the cyclone centre. The cyclone will weaken as it moves further inland and is expected to be about 60 km [32 NM] SW of Dampier Downs at 6am [192200 UTC]. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the western Kimberley. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin. YELLOW ALERT: Eighty Mile Beach, Sandfire, Wallal, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Dampier Downs and Mowla Bluff. A BLUE ALERT: Derby, Looma Community, Pandanus Park, Willare, Nookanbah, Camballin. The next advice will be issued at 3 am this morning [191900 UTC].
BoM TCA#24 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 3 CYCLONE is now current for coastal areas between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange], extending inland into northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. At 3am WST [191900 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 3, CP 945 hPa, had crossed the coast and was located near 18.5 S 122.5 E, about 65 km [35 NM] SSE of Broome, and 95 km [51 NM] W of Dampier Downs, moving ESE at 20 km/hr [11 KT]. Wind gusts 210 km/hr [115 KT]. Gales with gusts to 90 km/hr [49 KT] are expected between Broome and Bidyadanga [La Grange], increasing to very destructive winds with gusts to 210 [115 NM] near the cyclone centre. The cyclone will weaken as it moves further inland and is expected to be about 50 km [27 NM] SW of Dampier Downs at 6am [192200 UTC]. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the western Kimberley. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga [La Grange]. The next advice will be issued at 4 am this morning [192000 UTC].
BoM TCA#25 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 3 CYCLONE is now current for northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. The warning for Broome and Bidydanga [La Grange] has been cancelled. At 4am WST [192000 UTC] SEVERE TC ROSITA, Cat 3, CP 955 hPa, was over land and located near 18.6 S 122.7 E, about 90 km [49 NM] SE of Broome, and 80 km [43 NM] W of Dampier Downs, moving ESE at 20 km/hr [11 KT]. Wind gusts 190 km/hr [105 KT]. Gales with gusts to 90 km/hr [49 KT] are expected within 60 km [32 NM] of the centre, increasing to very destructive winds with gusts to 190 km/hr [105 KT] within 20 km [11 NM] of the centre. The cyclone will continue to weaken as it moves further inland and is expected to be about 55 km [30 NM] S of Dampier Downs at 9am. Very heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the southwestern Kimberley. The WA State Emergency Service advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga [La Grange]. The next advice will be issued at 7 am this morning [192300 UTC].
The BoM also issued a HSWW saying: CANCEL HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA. SEVERE TC ROSITA CP 955 hPa located over land at 192000UTC within 10 NM of 18.6S 122.7E and moving ESE at 11 KT. System is over land and gales are no longer being experienced in maritime waters. No further warnings will be issued for this system.
JTWC#6 said: at 191800 UTC TC 27S (ROSITA) was within 30 NM of 18.4S 122.3E moving past 6 hours 115 deg at 9 KT. MSW - 125 KT, GUSTS 150 KT, radius of 100 KT winds - 30 NM over water, radius of 50 KT winds - 060 NM over water, radius of 35 KT winds - 160 NM NE semicircle over water 130 NM elsewhere over water. REMARKS: at 192100 UTC TC 27S was near 18.7S 122.6E. It made landfall at 191630 UTC about 26 NM SSW of Broome. A 191548 UTC TRMM pass depicted a symmetric eyewall with a banding feature W of the eye. TC 27S is now located about 32 NM S of Broome, and has tracked ESE at 9 KT during the past 6 hours. Position based on 191730 UTC IRSI and data from the Broome radar, with satellite current intensity estimates of 125 KT. ASI depicts slight weakening of TC 27S over the past 3 hours as it moves inland. Prior to landfall, it had rapidly intensified and maintained a 10 - 14 NM diameter round eye. The Broome radar loop indicates a slight decrease in intensity but very little change in the eyewall structure and storm shape. It will continue to track S of the mid-level sub-tropical ridge, and is forecast to continue tracking SE through the forecast period. It will begin to weaken rapidly after 12 hours due to interaction with land and increasing vertical wind shear.
BoM TCA#26 said: Media: The Emergency Warning Signal should be used with this warning. A WARNING for a CATEGORY 2 CYCLONE is now current for northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. At 7am WST [192300 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 2, CP 975 hPa, was located near 18.8 S 123.2 E, about 135 km [73 NM] SE of Broome, and 40 km [22 NM] SW of Dampier Downs, moving ESE at 20 km/hr [11 KT]. Wind gusts 150 km/hr [80 KT]. Gales with gusts to 90 km/hr [49 KT] are expected within 60 km [32 NM] of the centre, increasing to destructive winds with gusts to 150 [80 KT] within 20 km [11 NM] of the centre. The cyclone will continue to weaken as it moves further inland and is expected to be about 50 km [27 NM] S of Dampier Downs at 9am [200100 UTC]. Heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the southwestern Kimberley. The WA SES advises of the following community alerts: RED ALERT: Broome, Bidyadanga [La Grange]. The next advice will be issued at 10 am this morning [200200 UTC].
BoM TCA#27 said: A WARNING for a CATEGORY 1 CYCLONE is now current for northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. At 9 am WST [200100 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 1, CP 990 hPa, was located about 175 km [95 NM] SE of Broome, moving ESE at 20 km/hr [11 KT]. Wind gusts 120 km/hr [65 KT]. Gales with gusts to 120 km/hr [65 KT] are expected within 60 km [32 NM] of the centre, however the cyclone is continuing to weaken as it moves inland. Heavy rain is expected to cause extensive flooding in the Great Sandy Desert area. The WA SES advises that all community alerts have been lifted. The next advice will be issued at 1 pm this afternoon [200500].
BoM TCA#28 said: FINAL WARNING for a CATEGORY 1 CYCLONE for northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert. At noon WST [200400 UTC] TC ROSITA, Cat 1, CP 995 hPa, was located near 19.4 S 124.1 E, about 250 km [135 NM] SE of Broome, moving ESE at 25 km/hr [13 KT]. Wind gusts 90 km/hr [49 KT]. Gales with gusts to 90 km/hr [49 KT] may occur in the next few hours near the centre, however ROSITA should weaken to below TC strength during the afternoon. The WA SES advises that all community alerts have been lifted. No further advices will be issued.
JTWC#7 said: at 200600 UTC TC 27S (ROSITA) was within 40 NM of 19.5S 124.7E moving past 6 hours 115 deg at 12 KT. MSW 50 KT, GUSTS 65 KT, dissipating as a significant TC over land, radius of 35 KT winds - 70 NM NE semicircle over water 45 NM elsewhere over water. REMARKS: at 200900 UTC TC 27S was near 19.9S 125.2E, now located about 167 NM SE of Broome, and has tracked ESE at 12 KT during the past 6 hours. Position based on 200530 VISIBLE and IRSI and synoptic data, with current satellite intensity estimates of 55 KT and synoptic reports of 50 KT. AVSI shows rapid weakening of the system during the past 6 hours. Deep convection is now confined to a small area just S of the LLCC. It will continue to track ESE over the Great Sandy Desert and dissipate by the end of the period. This is the final warning on this system.
END AGENCY WARNING SUMMARIES
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ABC NEWS BULLETINS:
LOCAL NEWS : North WA: Thur, 20 Apr 2000 0:47 WST
Broome residents on alert as Rosita approaches
Western Australian police are warning residents in the state's Kimberley region to stay inside as Cyclone Rosita crosses the coast.
The cyclone has already caused some damage and could bring with it a storm surge and flooding.
Broome is starting to feel the full force of Tropical Cyclone Rosita.
The cyclone is due to cross the coast just south of Broome, bringing with it winds of up to 270 kilometres per hour.
There have already been reports of trees being knocked down, rooves being torn off and back sheds being blown into neighbours' yards.
Police in Broome are alarmed at reports that people are driving around in the cyclone.
Their advice is to go inside and stay there until the all-clear is given later this morning.
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Thu, Apr 20 2000 4:56 AM AEST
Broome escapes worst of Cyclone Rosita
The town of Broome, on Western Australia's Kimberley coast, appears to have escaped the worst of Cyclone Rosita, which crossed the coast early this morning.
The weather bureau says Broome was extremely lucky to escape the worst of Tropical Cyclone Rosita.
Although the cyclone has caused considerable damage, the maximum wind gust recorded in the town was 143 kilometres an hour, compared to 240 kilometres an hour closer to the cyclone's centre.
The cyclone crossed the coast 35 kilometres south of Broome at about 1:00am AWST.
The winds are now expected to abate quickly as Rosita moves inland and into the Great Sandy Desert.
Heavy rain from the storm is expected to cause widespread flooding.
Western Australian police were forced to warn residents to stay inside as the cyclone crossed the coast, following reports some were driving around.
Their advice is to stay inside until the all-clear is given later this morning.
Damage
The cyclone has already caused some damage and could bring with it a storm surge and flooding.
There have already been reports of trees being knocked down, rooves being torn off and back sheds being blown into neighbours' yards.
The cyclone is expected to bring with it an 8.5 metre high tide which could combine to produce a storm surge and flooding.
Seas off the coast have been mountainous, with residents saying they have not witnessed such condition in 14 years.
Broome police last night evacuated low-lying areas of the town. About 250 people were also relocated from the Bidyadanga Community, south of Broome, to Port Hedland.
Police aide John Birch says others have chosen to stay and are taking shelter in the community's church and school.
"If they want to leave they can do so; some are staying put in their houses in the community," he said.
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Thu, Apr 20 2000 8:12 AM AEST
Rosita downgraded to category three
Tropical Cyclone Rosita has been downgraded from category four to category three after crossing Western Australia's Kimberly coast early this morning.
The cyclone crossed the coast just south of Broome.
Cyclone Rosita is weakening as it moves inland into the Great Sandy Desert.
The cyclone crossed the coast about 35 kilometres south of Broome about 1:00am AWST, ripping off roofs and uprooting trees.
Fortunately though there have been no reports of injury.
The weather bureau says Broome was lucky to escape the worst of the storm with maximum wind gusts of 143 kilometres per hour,compared to 240 kilometres per hour close to the centre.
The cyclone has dumped more than 160 millimetres or rain on the town which will result in widespread flooding. Although the winds are expected to abate quickly, people are being urged to stay inside until the all clear is given.
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Thu, Apr 20 2000 9:39 AM AEST
Broome escapes worst of Rosita's wrath
The town of Broome, on Western Australia's Kimberley coast, has escaped major damage after Cyclone Rosita crossed the coast, south of the town early this morning.
Emergency services in Broome are currently meeting at the local hospital to discuss the first steps in the town's recovery from Cyclone Rosita.
The main aim of the meeting is to organise a damage assessment.
Western Power will also be looking into damage to power lines, to ascertain how soon the electricity supply can be turned back on.
Cyclone Rosita crossed the coast south of Broome at 1:00am AWST,tearing off roofs and bringing down trees and power lines.
The winds have now subsided but the state emergency service is urging people to remain indoors so the damage assessment can be done without interference.
The weakening cyclone is dumping heavy rain on the west Kimberley as it move inland which will cause substantial flooding.
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
ABC RADIO
Cyclone Rosita
The World Today - Thursday, April 20, 2000 12:26
COMPERE: Well, let's now go to the north Western Australian city of Broome on the coast there. It's cleaning up today and counting blessings in the wake of last night's winds from the cyclone Rosita which tore through the town at about 150 kilometres an hour. The category three cyclone crossed the coast about 40 kilometres south of Broome, and fears that it would cause widespread damage have been thankfully proved unfounded. Rosita was the third cyclone though to cross the coast in the state's north-west region this season.
As David Webber reports, it's been an unusually active period for cyclones.
DAVID WEBBER: State Emergency Service Manager, Graham Downe [phonetic] says Broome's been lucky.
GRAHAM DOWNE: The power is out and is likely to be out for the next 24 to 36 hours, and we are out with teams assessing the damage, to see what can be done with trees that have come down and roofs that have come off some houses, and basically power lines which are down.
DAVID WEBBER: So it sounds like the town's weathered the storm pretty well.
GRAHAM DOWNE: The town got off very lightly, I think, because the eye of the cyclone missed us by about 20 kilometres, which cut the wind speed down from 270 kilometres an hour down to about 150.
DAVID WEBBER: He says tourists were advised to leave well before the cyclone crossed the coast.
GRAHAM DOWNE: We advised yesterday at the earliest opportunity for holiday-makers who are not comfortable in that environment to move into Derby which is about 200-odd kilometres east of us, and I think that sort of eased the pressure a bit.
DAVID WEBBER: Cable Beach, I believe that that was hit pretty hard.
GRAHAM DOWNE: I think there's been a fair amount of damage done to Cable Beach in terms of the storm search. I have not been down there myself to have a look, but I believe there is a lot of rock been exposed, so hopefully will do its trick and cure the thing in a short space of time.
DAVID WEBBER: The cyclone had already dealt a blow to Broome's tourist season. There were dozens of cancellations at the Portsmith caravan park. The park's manager, Meagher Green [phonetic] says she had a rough night but it wasn't as bad as she expected.
MEAGHER GREEN: Started getting fairly windy and caravans were rocking, and there was an aerial on the top of the shed that we were under, a TV mast which was making a lot of - you know, we kept thinking that the sheets of tin were moving, but they weren't, it was just the aerial.
DAVID WEBBER: The Weather Bureau says some minor flooding is expected. Broome received 160 millimetres of rain but there's no river catchment areas nearby. Rosita follows Steve which caused major flooding in Carnarvon last month and John, the category five cyclone, which hit the Pilbara in December. The Bureau's Barry Handstrom [phonetic] says the prolific season has been caused by a swing back to La Nina conditions.
BARRY HANDSTROM: In an average year we see around about four cyclones in the waters off the north-west coast, and two of those will cross the coast. This year we've had double that. We've had eight cyclones and three crossed the coast.
DAVID WEBBER: Any idea as to what's caused this unusual situation?
BARRY HANDSTROM: This current La Nina weather situation really didn't start developing until October or November, and it's been persistent really from that time right through until now. It's meant that conditions off the north-west coast of Australia have been very favourable for cyclonic activity.
COMPERE: Barry Handstrom of the Meteorological Bureau, with David Webber in Perth.
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The following is a transcript from the ABC National Rural News that is broadcast daily to all states on ABC Regional Radio's Country Hour and on ABC Radio National.
Tropical cyclone Rosita hits WA
Thursday, 20/04/00
Western Australia has experienced yet another cyclone overnight.
Tropical cyclone Rosita was heading directly for the well known tourist spot of Broome in the Western Kimberley but crossed the coast just south of the town in the early hours of this morning.
From Perth Naomi Morison reports.
Naomi Morison: Tropical Cyclone Rosita, at it's peak a category four in severity, crossed over land at one am Western time bringing wind gusts of up to two hundred and seventy kilometres an hour near the centre. Assessments of the impact are being carried out today with reports that trees and power lines are down and some structural damage has occurred to buildings in the town of Broome, but there's little information in yet as to how pastoral stations have coped overnight. The system continues to weaken as it moves over the Great Sandy Desert. The weather bureau reports expectations that this system might bring rain to southern parts to signal the start of the sowing season are not likely to be met, although a trough down the west coast may bring enough moisture for those who haven't started to begin their seeding programs.
Cyclone Rosita takes the total number of cyclones to impact on parts of the West this season to ten, a higher number than normal during the wet season.
©2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Country Hour
Thursday 20/04/00
Rosita cyclone - Russell Woolf
A banana plantation that looks like a bomb has gone off in it is just one of the descriptions now coming out Broome as residents start to clean up after experiencing a cyclone last night, the tenth cyclone to impact on Western Australia's north this season. Tropical Cyclone Rosita crossed the coast 56 kilometres south of Broome at about 1.15am. For pastoralists and growers, driving rain and wild winds meant yet another nervous wait, after what's already been a long and active cyclone season. Rosita passed right over Thangoo Station where Debbie Whitby works as a gardener. She talks about the impact of Rosita, the fact that strong winds and heavy rain made for a scary night, she expects to find some damage today to fences and other infrastructure. Jack Burton from Kilto Station says he was lucky in that it appears the station, it's stock and other assets were saved from damage. Meanwhile last night's strong winds have destroyed a banana plantation on the outskirts of Broome. Horticulture growers Stephen and Kylie Gray were about to pick fruit from their 18-hundred banana tree plantation, however Rosita has ruined that plan, leaving only ten plants still standing.
Interview: Debbie Whitby - resident and worker at Thangoo Station, Kimberley
Interview: Jack Burton - Manager/owner Kilto Station, Kimberley
Interview: Stephen Gray - Banana grower, Broome, Kimberley
©2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Thu, Apr 20 2000 7:33 PM AEST
Broome without power after battering by cyclone
It could take between 24 and 36 hours to restore electricity supplies to the Kimberley town of Broome, after damage caused by tropical cyclone Rosita.
Destructive winds from Rosita brought down power lines in the town, as the category four cyclone crossed the coast 40 kilometres south of Broome at 1:00am AWST.
Western Australian town of Broome cleans up after cyclone Rosita. David Webber reports.
State Emergency Service spokesman Gordon Tiddums says they are quite lucky Rosita did not hit the town directly.
He says the clean-up is expected to take days.
"The situation in Broome at present is not too bad actually the emergency services and the local emergency services conducted their assessment of the area and the clean-up has started," Mr Tiddums said.
Authorities in the town say several boats, including an historic 80 year old pearl lugger, broke their moorings at the height of last night's storm.
Meanwhile Western Power says cyclone Rosita has caused extensive damage to its power distribution system in Broome.
A spokesman says all the major feeder lines through the town are damaged and require extensive repair work.
Extra staff are being moved into Broome from Kununurra and Port Hedland.
The spokesman says it is difficult to estimate how long it will take to restore power supplies until an assessment of the damage has been completed.
Crops
The crop at Broome's only banana plantation has been almost completely lost in the gales.
Stephen Gray from Broome Bananas says he has only 10 plants left out of 18,000.
Mr Gray says his business will lose income for the next 12 months.
He says the cyclone has devastated his property.
"What was about four to five meter tall banana plantation is now about a meter tall.
"It is like an atom bomb has hit it," Mr Gray said.
Damage
Broome resident for 16 years Chris Wright says some of the sights around town are unbelievable.
"Down at Entrance Point - where people launch their boat near the jetty near the port - there is the whole car park is littered with large rocks, that you know the average person would find difficult to pick up," Mr Wright said.
"The tidal surge has come up over the top of the concrete ramp into the carpark and the whole carpark is just littered with rocks and sand."
Tourism
The devastation caused the cyclone to the WA holiday town comes as a major blow to its tourism industry on the eve of the busy Easter break.
Portsmith Caravan Park manager Marg Green says already they have had up to 12 cancellations from people booked to stay at the caravan park over Easter.
Ms Green says they are confronted with a massive clean-up operation, with a large number of trees uprooted.
She says the storm was ferocious.
"About midnight it started getting fairly windy and caravans were rocking," she said.
"There was an aerial on top of the shed that we were under, a TV mast which was making a lot of din.
"We kept thinking that the sheets of tin were moving but they weren't, it was just the aerial," Ms Green said.
Emergency services meeting
Emergency services in Broome are currently meeting at the local hospital to discuss the first steps in the town's recovery from Cyclone Rosita.
The main aim of the meeting is to organise a damage assessment.
Western Power will also be looking into damage to power lines, to ascertain how soon the electricity supply can be turned back on.
Cyclone Rosita crossed the coast south of Broome at 1:00am AWST, tearing off roofs and bringing down trees and power lines.
The winds have now subsided but the state emergency service is urging people to remain indoors so the damage assessment can be done without interference.
The weakening cyclone is dumping heavy rain on the west Kimberley as it move inland which will cause substantial flooding.
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Fri, Apr 21 2000 9:22 AM AEST
Alice warned of flooding as Broome cleans up
Alice Springs police say there could be flooding in the Todd and Charles rivers this morning, as heavy rain associated with ex-cyclone Rosita continues.
The warning comes as the north-western Western Australian town of Broome remains without power as it tidies up after Rosita crossed the coast.
Rosita has since been downgraded to a rain depression and is dumping heavy falls on the Kimberley, Pilbara and central Australia as it moves into the Great Sandy Desert.
The Stuart Highway south of Alice Springs is already cut at the Finke and Palmer rivers.
Alice police spokesman Gavin Gleeson says levels in the Todd and Charles rivers are already high and the continuing rain could lead to flooding from about 5:00am onwards.
People in residences adjacent to the Todd River are being asked to phone Alice police for further advice, although evacuations are not underway at this stage.
Alice Springs police commander Bob Fields says a group of people is already stranded at Hamilton Downs, north of the Alice, and will have to be brought out tomorrow morning.
He is advising central Australian residents to stay where they are as emergency services monitor the situation.
"We've got police officers out on the road at the causeways just to make sure people don't get themselves into trouble by trying to do something foolish," he said.
"We've got NTS people and Northern Territory fire service people are out there assisting where people need assistance.
"We've set up the counter disaster committee down here in Alice Springs as all on deck at the moment.
"They'll take it through the night and see where we go."
Broome
The town of Broome has called in reinforcements to help clean up and repair infrastructure in the cyclone-ravaged town.
Western Power crews from surrounding towns have arrived and a range of equipment, including poles, transformers and conductors, has been trucked in.
Up to 200 power poles were damaged early yesterday when Cyclone Rosita swept through the area.
Authorities expect it will be at least five days before power is fully restored.
Initial repairs to the power distribution system will focus on water supplies and sewage plants.
But it is hoped electricity can quickly be restored to local supermarket refrigerators so Broome's 12,000 residents are assured of a steady supply of fresh food.
Two powerful generators are being trucked in to power the supermarkets' refrigeration equipment in the meantime.
The State Emergency Service (SES) has called in crews and equipment from Hedland, Port Hedland, Karratha, Tom Price and Derby.
Local SES manager Graeme Down says crews yesterday completed about 20 emergency repairs to buildings with missing roofs but have more than 100 still to do.
Mr Down says the reinforcements will be a great help.
He says that until power is restored, locals are sharing whatever cooking and cooling facilities they have.
"Those things happen in Broome and I think it builds up a really tremendous community spirit despite the fact that people are facing some fairly substantial hardships at this time," he said.
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Fri, Apr 21 2000 2:32 PM AEST
Floods cut off Alice Springs
Alice Springs is cut off from the south by floods and the swollen Todd River is restricting vehicular movement in the town, with low-level causeways expected to remain closed for several days.
The casino causeway, Stevens Road, is expected to be reopened today.
The flooding has been caused by heavy rain from the remnants of Cyclone Rosita, which crossed the Western Australian coast near Broome yesterday.
Police are still monitoring the river level through the town, even though it has dropped from its overnight peak and the flood threat has eased.
Senior Sergeant Rob Farmer says the river level has risen again in the past hour, but not significantly, and police expect it will drop throughout the day.
However, he says as well as roads in the town, most access routes are inundated.
The Stuart Highway north of Alice Springs is open at the moment only to trucks and to 4WDs with extreme care and the Stuart Highway south of Alice Springs is cut at several places.
The Transport and Works Department says the Plenty Highway is also impassable.
Broome
Meanwhile, the Port of Broome's chief executive officer, Stephan Frodsham, says Cyclone Rosita has caused an estimated $1 million damage to port facilities.
Mr Frodsham says the greatest damage has been to navigation aids, one of which has disappeared.
Rosita, the 10th cyclone to form off the Western Australian coast this season, brought winds of up to 270 kilometres per hour, as it crossed the coast early yesterday morning.
Mr Frodsham says he does not expect repairs will be carried out for some time, although the port still has access to solar-powered navigational aids.
He says the port's office has been damaged and much of the jetty boardwalk has been washed away.
"The storm surge raised the level of the water and the waves so high that it actually washed those panels clean off the jetty," he said.
"We've also witnessed a demountable office in the offshore supply base in the port area that was ripped out of its foundations and just smashed against the ground and shattered into a thousand pieces."
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
ABC RADIO
Food shortages after Cyclone Rosita
AM - Saturday, April 22, 2000 8:07
COMPERE: As the residents of Broome in Western Australia continue the big clean-up after the cyclone there, there's now growing anger over food shortages. Police have already been called to one supermarket following ugly scenes there, and security guards are being deployed to prevent further trouble. As well as the unruly behaviour of some customers, supermarket managers are now worried about panic buying.
Adrienne Lowth reports:
ADRIENNE LOWTH: Cyclone Rosita crossed the coast last Thursday morning about 40 kilometres south of Broome. Winds gusting up to 270 kilometres an hour battered the coastal tourist town, uprooting trees and power poles. The most obvious damage occurred at Cable Beach where the famous stretch of white sand has been washed away. While structural damage has been minimal, locals were caught by surprise when Rosita suddenly changed direction and started heading towards the coast. The manager of the Coles supermarket, David Cook, says many residents expected the cyclone to bypass Broome and didn't stock up for the Easter break.
DAVID COOK: I think a little bit of complacency with people in Broome really. We have a lot of cyclones go past us, and this one caught us a little bit by surprise.
ADRIENNE LOWTH: There were ugly scenes at one supermarket when a power generator failed, and hundreds of shoppers trying to restock their supplies were asked to leave.
Security guard John Cupkey says some shoppers demanded they be allowed to take their groceries home free of charge, while others, angry at being told to leave, abused checkout staff.
JOHN CUPKEY: One lady actually said - demanded that it was our right to give them food, and wanted food for free.
ADRIENNE LOWTH: I suppose people are feeling pretty tense, given the cyclone. And were they running short of supplies?
JOHN CUPKEY: Oh, I guess they would have been. I think just all the hysteria, you know, and just caught up in it and believed that they were going to be caught out of food.
ADRIENNE LOWTH: Were they panicking?
JOHN CUPKEY: Yeah, they were panicking. Some became hostile.
ADRIENNE LOWTH: Eventually police were called in and calm was restored. But David Cook from Coles says he's not taking any chances. He's employed extra security guards to keep things under control, and shoppers are only being let in in small groups at a time. Others have to queue outside to wait their turn.
The lack of power is the biggest problem facing Broome in the wake of cyclone Rosita. Western Power says it's working as fast as it can to restore electricity supplies to the town. Some area are back on the grid, while others are operating from generators, and it could well be the middle of next week before power is fully restored.
COMPERE: Adrienne Lowth reporting.
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The following is a transcript from the ABC National Rural News that is broadcast daily to all states on ABC Regional Radio's Country Hour and on ABC Radio National.
Rosita hits Broome
Monday, 24/04/00
Five days since Tropical Cyclone Rosita hit the far north Western Australian town of Broome, the region is seeking urgent state government assistance.
Rosita left a trail of damage, estimated at millions of dollars.
Electricity has yet to be restored to the town, and beachfront erosion has devastated world famous tourist spots, including Cable Beach.
Two state government ministers are flying to Broome today, to consider assistance, and make on-site inspections.
Meanwhile, rain from ex-tropical cyclone Rosita brought central Australia to its knees on the weekend with roads cut and Alice Springs facing flood.
Boosting the week's gauging up to 250mm, Rosita continued to dump rain across the region for most of Easter.
The Todd River peaked on Friday afternoon, just below a critical flood level with 100 people needing evacuation.
Only now are roads being re-opened, with some still only accessible to four wheel drives and a few still totally closed.
The Stuart highway north and south of Alice is open to traffic again.
©2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
LOCAL NEWS : North WA : Fri, 28 Apr 2000 7:42 WST
Northern WA sees the light after Cyclone Rosita
Power has been restored in Broome following the destruction of Cyclone Rosita last week.
Winds of up to 270 kph during the height of the cyclone damaged about 200 poles and kilometres of overhead power lines.
Western Power says less than 100 business premises and residences still need to be safety checked before their power supplies are reconnected.
Street lights will be back to normal by Sunday.
Residents and proprietors are urged to contact Western Power for reconnection once they have received the electrician's safety clearance.
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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Note 1: Tropical Cyclone Advices, Updates, and Shipping Warnings used as sources for meteorological information in this report were issued by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre and are Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 1999, Bureau of Meteorology - http://www.bom.gov.au. BoM information is used unless otherwise noted.
Note 2: BoM Perth issues warnings to the Australian public using kilometres for distances, kilometres per hour for maximum gust wind speeds, hPa for central pressure, and times are WST, which is Australian Western Standard Time = UTC + 8 hours. I have converted all these and added in them brackets, so changing to nautical miles (often nearest 5 NM), knots (often nearest 5 KT), hPa = MB, and times are also given in UTC.
Note 3: Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Pearl Harbour, tropical cyclone warnings were also used for extra meteorological information where indicated, and that material is copyright JTWC - http://www.npmoc.navy.mil/jtwc.htm.
Note 4: The ABC NEWS BULLETINS in the EXTRA INFORMATION section are included in the interest of providing a picture of the effects of this cyclone, and are copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation - http://www.abc.net.au/news
END REPORT
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