Australian Bureau of Meteorology predicts TC Hamish will remain a Category 4 system Monday night as it hovers near shoreline along the central Queensland coast.
Hamish, downgraded to a category 4 storm, is located near the Capricornia coast about 250 km east of Yeppoon and 240 km north-north-east of Bundaberg, moving south south-east at near 16 km per hour, a report said.
epa01658587 A handout image released by the Bureau of Meteorology, Japan Meteorological Agency on 08 March 2009 of an infrared satellite image dated 08 March 2009, showing the progress of cyclone Hamish over Australia.
Powerful winds could cause substantial damage to townships and communities between Yeppoon and Hervey Bay. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology expected sea levels to rise above normal tide line as Hamish moves south-east. Minor flooding may occur along the shoreline.
Hamish is expected to weaken further in the next 24 hours.
Earth Observatory: Tropical Cyclone Hamish
With winds near 240 kilometers per hour (150 miles per hour or 130 knots), Tropical Cyclone Hamish was a powerful Category 4 storm (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) as it moved down the northeast coast of Australia on March 7, 2009. The storm formed on March 5 off the Queensland coast, and intensified as it moved southeast just off shore. By the time the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image on the morning of March 7, the storm was well-formed. The intense storm has a distinct eye, surrounded by a wall of towering clouds. As of March 7, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicted that Hamish would come ashore just north of Brisbane on March 9. The storm was forecast to weaken before making landfall.
NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Holli Riebeek.
TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST TRACK MAP
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish
Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 33 issued at 10:43 pm EST Monday 9 March 2009
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| Current Cyclone Details | Forecast Cyclone Details (at 24 and 48 hours from issue) |
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The forecast path shown above is the Bureau’s best estimate of the cyclone’s future movement and intensity. There is always some uncertainty associated with tropical cyclone forecasting and the grey zone indicates the range of likely tracks.
Due to the uncertainty in the future movement, the indicated winds will almost certainly extend to regions outside the rings on this map. The extent of the warning & watch zones reflects this. (Australia’s BoM)
Remarks:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish is expected to maintain a southeast track parallel to the coast overnight, before slowing down and beginning to weaken during Tuesday.
Damaging winds are expected to continue to affect offshore islands between Yeppoon and Double Island Point (including Heron Island, Lady Elliot Island, and Fraser Island) during the next 24 hours.
Damaging winds are not expected to develop about the mainland coast between Yeppoon and Double Island Point during the next 24 hours, however they may develop later.
As the cyclone moves to the southeast, sea levels are expected to be elevated above the normal tide along the coastline and 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.
People on offshore islands between Yeppoon and Double Island Point (including Heron Island, Lady Elliot Island, and Fraser Island) should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property.
People on the mainland coast between Yeppoon and Tewantin should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases. If you are unsure about the actions to be taken, information is available from your local government or local State Emergency Service. (Source: Australia’s BoM)
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