It’s not a hugely populated area, but it could cause plenty of damage to the mining and energy infrastructure.
Just how populated is it?
I haven’t forgotten Katrina.
I’m not sure of the exact figures. The report suggests the cyclone is likely to reach land between the towns of Dampier (population approx. 2,000) and Karratha (population approx. 10,000). The whole Pilbara region has a population of about 50,000 or so I’d guess.
Are evacuations going on?
I don’t think so yet. The alert from the local SES seems to advise that people stay put for the moment but be ready to leave if they’re in low lying areas facing the risk of storm surges.
1920s Style “Death Ray” may know more. I think he’s in that part of the world.
I can’t be the only one who thought this thread was about the Washington coast.
scratches head
He is an Aussie, but it’s a big continent, & who knows where he is.
If his addy turns out to be a sheep station 2 blocks east of Ayer’s Rock, & we warn him of flooding, we’ll never live it down… :eek:
Looks at poster’s name.
::Shakes Head Sadly:::
Donning my dunce cap to ask: What is a cyclone? Is it a hurricane in the southern hemisphere? A tornado in the southern hemisphere? Something else altogether? I know it blows. But that’s all I know.
Hurricane, SH.
It looks like the evacuations have now started as Clare approaches.
Here is a link to the Dampier weather radar.
Check the 256k loop.
Impressive!
I’m in Broome, in the North East corner of this cyclone threat map.
I don’t know anything more about it than what’s been on the news as my personal interest in it dimished a little after it continued south past Broome and toward other towns.
We seem to get a few TCs come close to us each season, but I haven’t had one come too close yet.
Although the area is sparsely populated, the forecast track has the TC going quite close to Karratha which is, along with Port Hedland, the main population centre in the region.
Kalhoun,
Tropical Cyclone, Typhoon, and Hurricane are all different names for the same type of weather pattern. A tornado is a small localised storm with a short lifespan, usually associated with thunder storms.
Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor, thankfully I don’t live on a sheep station two blocks from Ayers Rock.
At any time there are usually 10-20 bulk cargo ships anchored just off Dampier, waiting for a birth. The area is also littered with oil and gas drilling instillations.
P.S., I’m not an Aussie, but will become one on the 26th of January! I will retain my original citizenship of New Zealand so I can cheer for the winning team in any trans-Tasman sporting conflicts.
I also thought it odd a cyclone was going to hit Washington, but who knows these days. It may not be terribly populated but it will suck for the populace that is there. Our thoughts are with you.
Very patriotic 
Tornadoes I know. But they can only happen over land. I think they’re called a waterspout if they form over water. At least that’s my understanding. They’re also characterized by higher-speed winds. I’ve been in a few. Not much fun.