Cyclone Alert procedure activated

10 Jan 2018 / Port Hedland, Australia

The PPA – Port of Port Hedland cyclone response procedure has been activated. The port remains at Cyclone Alert Stage 1 – Monitor.

As of 0500 WST this morning (10 January), the Tropical Low (09U) was in position 16.6S 123.3E some 350 NM North East of Port Hedland and continues its Westerly movement over the north Kimberley coast. It is expected to move out into open water over the next 6 hours and form into a cyclone late Wednesday or early Thursday. The slower than forecast movement has delayed the likely onset of GALES at Port Hedland until Friday morning at this stage.

The system is still expected to rapidly intensify and the current forecast track retains guidance of a coastal crossing as a Category 3 system in the vicinity of 80 Mile Beach on Friday.

The Port expects to move to PREPARE stage later this afternoon with a potential port evacuation commencing early tomorrow (Thursday 11 January).

For information about operations at Australian ports contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.