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31 Jul 2015 / Australia, all ports

Cyclones approaching west & east coasts

Two tropical cyclones are affecting Australian coast: Olwyn on the west coast; and Nathan on the east coast. TROPICAL CYCLONE OLWYN: In its Tropical Cyclone Advice No.14 issued at 0900 hours local time today (12 March), the Australian Bureau of Meteorology advises that at 08:00, Tropical Cyclone Olwyn was estimated to be 335km northwest of Karratha and 415km north-northeast of Exmouth. Sustained winds of 96 km/hour were reported near the centre, with wind gusts to 140 km/hour. The cyclone continues to intensify as it moves towards the Northwest Cape and is expected to reach Category 3 before landfall. If the system takes a more southwestwards track it may remain over water and retain cyclone intensity for longer as it moves southwards. In that scenario communities along the Gascoyne coast will experience much higher winds than if it tracks just inland from the coast. As the system moves southwards, it is expected to take heavy rain and squally winds into southern parts of Western Australia. Very destructive winds with gusts exceeding 165 km/hour could develop near the west Pilbara coast late Thursday evening or early Friday morning as the cyclone approaches the coast. Destructive winds with gusts in excess of 125 km/hour may extend to Coral Bay for a period during Friday morning then to Cape Cuvier later on Friday. Heavy rainfall is likely to develop over the western Pilbara and northern Gascoyne during Thursday and continue into Friday. Heavy rainfall will extend further southwards on Saturday. The port of Dampier is currently at Cyclone Response 4 � Shut Down (officially shut down at 1000 local time today, 12 March), as gale force winds expected to start affecting the port from this afternoon. All anchorages are closed to new arrivals, except vessels proceeding to their designated cyclone moorings and small vessels seeking safe haven. The port will remain closed until weather conditions abate. Other Pilbara ports (Port Walcott, Barrow Island, Cape Preston, Varanus Island, Onslow) as well as other ports in the Watch Zone (Useless Loop and Cape Cuvier), have been cleared since yesterday afternoon. No marine traffic is permitted within the port waters (with the exception of vessels operating by agreement and approval). These ports are now officially closed with effect from 0800 hours today. TROPICAL CYCLONE NATHAN: The Bureau of Meteorology advises that Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Nathan was this morning estimated to be 85km north of Lizard Island and 175km north of Cooktown, and continuing to move slowly west towards the coast near Cape Flattery. It is expected to slow this movement during today and ultimately change direction to the east-northeast away from the coast over the next 24 hours. Sustained winds of 95km/hour have been reported near the centre, with wind gusts to 130 km/hour. Gales extend out to approximately 100 km from the centre to the south of the system and could develop about coastal and island areas between Coen and Port Douglas today. Gales could extend north to Lockhart River overnight and into Friday, depending on the track the cyclone takes. Very destructive winds are expected to develop within 45km of the centre early Friday morning and could begin to affect coastal and island areas between Cape Flattery and Cape Melville. Destructive winds extend out to 70km from the centre and could develop about the coast and islands between Cooktown and Cape Melville, including Lizard Island, today. Abnormally high tides could develop about coastal areas between Coen and Cape Tribulation during today with large waves possibly leading to minor flooding along the foreshore if the cyclone takes a more westward track closer to the coast. The ports of Cooktown and Cape Flattery remain closed at this time. At this stage minimal impact is expected for the main East Coast ports and none of the Queensland Coal Ports are currently being affected. For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

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

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