Tropical Cyclone Ilsa

Tropical cyclone Ilsa (il-suh) developed off the north Western Australian coast on Tuesday April 11 2023. Ilsa has developed to a category 5 severe tropical cyclone (April 13 2023) and continued moving towards the north Western Australian coast before making landfall southwest of Broome. Ilsa deteriated to a low pressure system as it travelled towards the east.

 

Severe tropical cyclone Ilsa warnings April 13 2023: 

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 32

Issued at 2:58 pm WST on Thursday 13 April 2023

 

Headline:

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa is now at category 5 intensity. It will cross the coast between Port Hedland and Wallal Downs later tonight or early on Friday morning.

 

Areas Affected:

Warning Zone

Bidyadanga to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland but not including Bidyadanga, and extending inland past Parnngurr, including Nullagine, Marble Bar and Telfer.

 

Watch Zone

Inland areas to Kiwirrkurra, and southwest of Balgo.

 

Cancelled Zone

Broome to Bidyadanga.

 

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa at 2:00 pm AWST:

Intensity: Category 5, sustained winds near the centre of 205 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 285 kilometres per hour.

 

Location: within 20 kilometres of 18.7 degrees South 118.8 degrees East, estimated to be 180 kilometres north of Port Hedland and 230 kilometres west northwest of Wallal Downs.

 

Movement: south at 19 kilometres per hour.

 

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa has intensified into a category 5 system and is moving south. Ilsa is expected to turn to the southeast this evening prior to crossing the coast.

 

A severe impact will occur along the coast and adjacent inland parts between Port Hedland and Wallal Downs, most likely between De Grey and Pardoo Roadhouse, later tonight or early Friday morning. During Friday, Ilsa is forecast to maintain tropical cyclone intensity as it tracks past Telfer and further inland across the Northern Interior district. The system is expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength overnight Friday as it moves east into southern parts of the Northern Territory.

 

Hazards:

The VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE of Ilsa, with extreme gusts up to 315 km/hr is expected to impact areas near Pardoo Roadhouse and De Grey late Thursday night or early Friday morning, before tracking inland. Very destructive wind gusts up to 170 km/hr are possible at Telfer during Friday if the centre of Ilsa passes close by.

 

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 155 km/h will develop near the coast between Wallal Downs and Port Hedland this evening before extending inland as far as Marble Bar tonight and to Telfer during Friday.

 

DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 90 km/h will develop on the coast from just south of Bidyadanga to Whim Creek by this evening. DAMAGING WINDS are expected to extend inland to Marble Bar during Thursday night, to Telfer early Friday, Parnngurr by Friday afternoon, and possibly to Kiwirrkurra by Friday evening.

 

HEAVY RAINFALL is expected along the track of Ilsa. 150 to 300 mm of rainfall is possible during tonight and Friday near where Ilsa crosses the coast, with falls gradually decreasing as it tracks inland.

 

ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are possible about the coast between Bidyadanga and Port Hedland as the system crosses the coast tonight or during early Friday morning. In some locations the tide may be close to or exceed the highest astronomical tide of the year.

 

Recommended Action:

DFES advises of the following Community alerts (effective as of 3.00pm 13/04/2023):

 

RED ALERT: People between Bidyadanga and Port Hedland (not including Bidyadanga) to Marble Bar (not including Marble Bar) need to go to shelter immediately.

 

YELLOW ALERT: People in or near Port Hedland to Whim Creek (not Including Port Hedland), including Telfer and Nullagine need to take action now and get ready to shelter from a cyclone

 

Blue Alert: People from Broome to Bidyadanga (not including Broome) and inland areas to Parnngurr and Kiwirrkurra need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water.

 

Next Advice:

The next advice will be issued by 4:00 pm AWST Thursday 13 April.

 

From www.bom,gov.au