Source: Bureau of Meteorology

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 15
Issued at 2:46 pm WST on Sunday 19 January 2025

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Sean category 2, impacting the western Pilbara coast today and Monday.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Whim Creek to Ningaloo, including Karratha, Dampier, Onslow and Exmouth.

Watch Zone
None.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Sean 11U at 2:00 pm AWST:
Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 30 kilometres of 19.7 degrees South 115.2 degrees East, estimated to be 205 kilometres northwest of Karratha and 275 kilometres north northeast of Exmouth.

Movement: west southwest at 17 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Sean will continue moving west, parallel to the Pilbara coast, while strengthening. From Monday onwards, the cyclone is forecast to turn towards the southwest, while remaining over open waters. By this time, the cyclone is forecast to begin moving away from the coast.

Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are occurring or imminent about coastal and island communities between Whim Creek and Onslow, including Karratha and Dampier. These GALES are forecast to extend west to Ningaloo, including Exmouth, later this afternoon and tonight.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 150 km/h may occur over offshore island communities this afternoon and tonight, and about the North West Cape early tomorrow, if the cyclone tracks a little further south than forecast.

Squally thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall are likely. A Flood Watch has been issued for the Pilbara.

As the cyclone moves westwards, parallel to the north WA coast, a storm tide is forecast between Whim Creek and Exmouth during the afternoon's high tide today and tomorrow. Large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours.

Recommended Action:
Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app.

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