Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol Forecasted to Weaken Before Landfall in WA
Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol, which intensified to category 4, is set to weaken before making landfall in Western Australia this weekend. It will likely reach the coast as a category 1 cyclone, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds, particularly around Kuri Bay and Beagle Bay.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol, which recently intensified to category 4 strength, is forecasted to weaken prior to its anticipated landfall along the Western Australia coast this weekend. The cyclone experienced rapid intensification from a category 1 on Tuesday night to category 4 status by Wednesday night.
As of 2:00 AM AWST Thursday, Errol was positioned approximately 510 km northwest of Broome. A significant shift in direction occurred Wednesday night into Thursday morning, when Errol made a leftward turn, leading the storm into less conducive atmospheric conditions for sustaining its intensity, resulting in an expected weakening before landfall.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a track map indicating that Errol will lose strength as it nears the Kimberley coastline on Thursday and Friday. It is projected to make landfall as a category 1 tropical cyclone or possibly a tropical low by Friday night or Saturday morning.
Although diminishing in strength, Errol is still expected to produce heavy rainfall across parts of the Kimberley region from Friday into the weekend. Furthermore, the storm could generate damaging winds as it approaches and crosses the coastline, particularly between Kuri Bay and Beagle Bay. Notably, Errol is classified as the eighth severe tropical cyclone of the season, marking the highest count in this category in nearly two decades.
In summary, Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol has shifted from category 1 to category 4 but is expected to weaken before making landfall in Western Australia. Despite this weakening, the cyclone will still pose risks of heavy rainfall and damaging winds on the coast. This season has already witnessed a significant number of severe cyclones, reflecting unusual climatic activity.
Original Source: www.weatherzone.com.au
