CHRISTINE Could Intensify to Cat 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENT

Massive Storm CHRISTINE could intensify to a Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone

FIRE-EARTH Models show CHRISTINE could intensify to a Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone with sustained winds of 165 km/h or higher, and wind gusts in excess of 225 km/h over the next 24 hours, subject to continued favorable conditions [probability: 0.45]

As of 05:32 UTC on December 29, 2013 FIRE-EARTH models located  CHRISTINE (TC 05S) near 17.1ºS, 119.9ºE, about 425 km NNE of Port Hedland, Australia, inching SSW towards the Pilbara coast at a forward speed of about 3 km/h.

Severe Tropical Cyclone  CHRISTINE. Infrared [FIRE-EARTH Enhancement] Satellite Image. Recorded at 04:32UTC on Sunday December 29, 2013. The original Image Sourced from: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

 ABOM Forecast

According to Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABOM), CHRISTINE will develop to a Cat 3   Severe Tropical Cyclone at 5 am WST (UTC +8 hrs)  and weaken to Cat2 at 11 am on December 31.

Severe Tropical Cyclone  CHRISTINE projected path.  Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABOM).

ABOM Cyclone Warning

“During Monday gales and heavy rainfall are expected to extend to Mardie and possibly as far west as Exmouth, and then to the inland Pilbara late Monday and on Tuesday. If Christine continues to develop as expected a severe tropical cyclone impact on the Pilbara coast is likely late on Monday or early on Tuesday, with VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts in excess of 170 kilometres per hour near the cyclone centre,” warned BOM.

“People on the coast between Pardoo and Mardie, including Port Hedland and Karratha, are warned of the potential for a VERY DANGEROUS STORM TIDE late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. Tides may rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with DAMAGING WAVES and VERY DANGEROUS COASTAL INUNDATION.”

Related Links

• CHRISTINE Even Fiercer than She Looks  December 28, 2013