Topic: Tropical Cyclone Dominic WA: 26 - 28 January 2009

[Colin Maitland]

I have posted this topic in the other thread (Australian region tropical cyclone season: 2008 - 2009) but I was amazed how fast this one has developed, with the potential to become a category 3 by 9 AM Tuesday morning.

It is the first time I have noticed it being classified as a FLASH TRROPICAL ADVICE.

I have been monitoring the low over WA and up till today there was no real threat with the 3 day forecast.

I have no doubt someone has observed a flash advice before. I presume it developed very quickly.

PS. I just did some research at 2.54pm  and the difinition for FLASH from the BOM is:

A tropical cyclone advice is prefixed "FLASH" when it is the first warning to a community not previously alerted by a cyclone watch. It is also issued when major changes are made to the previous warning due, for example, to unexpected movement towards the coast or rapid intensification.



TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

FLASH TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 1
Issued at 11:15 am WDT on Sunday, 25 January 2009
BY THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH

A Cyclone WARNING has been declared for coastal areas from Wickham to Exmouth.

At 9:00 am WDT a developing tropical low was estimated to be
215 kilometres north of Port Hedland and
355 kilometres west of Broome and
moving west at 23 kilometres per hour parallel to the Pilbara coast.

The low may develop into a tropical cyclone overnight as it continues moving to
the west. It is not expected to cause gales in coastal areas today but gales
could develop during Monday or Tuesday.

Details of Tropical Low at 9:00 am WDT:
.Centre located near...... 18.4 degrees South 118.9 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 55 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the west at 23 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 85 kilometres per hour and INTENSIFYING
.Severity category........ below cyclone intensity
.Central pressure......... 1000 hectoPascals

FESA-State Emergency Service advises that there are no community alerts at
present.
Communities between Wickham and Exmouth should listen for the next advice.

The next advice will be issued by 1:00pm WDT Sunday 25 January.
Cyclone advices and State Emergency Service Community Alerts are available by
dialling  1300 659 210


A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at:
http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/cyclone

[Colin Maitland]

 

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 10
Issued at 12:50 pm WDT on Monday, 26 January 2009
BY THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH

A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal areas from Whim Creek to Exmouth
including adjacent inland parts of the west Pilbara.

At midday WDT Tropical Cyclone Dominic, Category 1 was estimated to be
160 kilometres northwest of Karratha and
240 kilometres north northeast of Onslow and
moving southwest at 10 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Dominic is moving towards the west Pilbara coast. Gales with
gusts to 120 kilometres per hour may develop in exposed coastal areas later this
afternoon or overnight.

Tides between Exmouth and Whim Creek may rise above the normal high tide mark as
the cyclone approaches the coast, with very rough seas and flooding of low lying
coastal areas.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Dominic at midday WDT:
.Centre located near...... 19.6 degrees South 115.9 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 45 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the southwest at 10 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 95 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 1
.Central pressure......... 994 hectoPascals

FESA-State Emergency Service advises of the following community alerts:
BLUE ALERT: People in or near the communities of Roebourne, Wickham, Point
Samson, Karratha, Dampier, Onslow and adjacent inland communities should start
taking precautions.


The next advice will be issued by 4:00 pm WDT Monday 26 January.
Cyclone advices and State Emergency Service Community Alerts are available by
dialling  1300 659 210

[Peter J]

Just a short note:

Dominic is now a Cat 2 storm, and will hit near Oslow very soon.

Big Pete

[Carlos E]

Adding to what Pete said, Cyclone Dominic has set some windy observations for Onslow.

27/05:25am - Sustained 10 minute: 78km/h; Gust 104km/h (Cat 1 strength)
27/06:00am - Sustained 10 minute: 85km/h; Gust 113km/h (Cat 1 strength)
27/06:33am - Sustained 10 minute: 98km/h; Gust 117km/h (Cat 1 strength)
27/07:00am - Sustained 10 minute: 98km/h; Gust 133km/h (Cat 2 strength)

Pressure dipped to 990.1hPa and they have had 182.8mm of rain as of this post dumped on them.

[Colin Maitland]

Now Ex tropical cyclone Dominic.

Very short lived,but hopefully some good rainfulls now.

Eyes back on to Northern Coral sea over the next few days.

[Richary]

Saw a comment about some regions of the Pilbara being underwater. With 190mm of rain in 24 hours in places I can understand that. As someone else commented on the ham radio forums - imagine the conditions in a few days when it heats up to usual summer temperatures and all that humidity. Might be interesting to watch the figures.

[Michael Bath]

A few places around Esperence also copped some decent rainfall from ex TC-Dominic. The red dots on the attached maps in that region are all figures just under 120mm.

The top 24 hour fall further north was 192mm at Innouendy.