# Category 3 cyclone approaching the WA coast **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056 "2006-01-08T22:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/1 "2006-01-08T22:18:41Z")
[Link](http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17763678-2,00.html) It’s not a hugely populated area, but it could cause plenty of damage to the mining and energy infrastructure. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/2 "2006-01-08T22:26:48Z")
Just how populated is it? I haven’t forgotten Katrina. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/3 "2006-01-08T22:44:22Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Just how populated is it? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/4 "2006-01-08T23:09:16Z")
Are evacuations going on? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/5 "2006-01-08T23:29:48Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Are evacuations going on? I don’t think so yet. The [alert](http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au/internet/alerts/display.aspx?id=478) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/6 "2006-01-09T00:16:33Z")
I can’t be the only one who thought this thread was about the Washington coast. _scratches head_ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/7 "2006-01-09T00:24:58Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > I don’t think so yet. The [alert](http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au/internet/alerts/display.aspx?id=478) 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. 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: ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/8 "2006-01-09T00:33:19Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I can’t be the only one… Looks at poster’s name. ::Shakes Head Sadly::: [Satellite Image of Clare](http://www.bom.gov.au/gms/IDE00035.latest.shtml) [http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/satellite/](http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/satellite/) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/9 "2006-01-09T00:38:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/10 "2006-01-09T00:44:59Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/11 "2006-01-09T03:48:31Z")
It looks like the evacuations [have now started](http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17763678-2,00.html) as Clare approaches. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/12 "2006-01-09T03:58:51Z")
[Here](http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR153.shtml) is a link to the Dampier weather radar. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/13 "2006-01-09T04:01:04Z")
Check the 256k loop. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/14 "2006-01-09T04:02:58Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > Check the 256k loop. Impressive! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/15 "2006-01-09T04:03:04Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > **1920s Style “Death Ray”** may know more. I think he’s in that part of the world. I’m in Broome, in the North East corner of this [cyclone threat map](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60277.shtml). 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. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/16 "2006-01-09T04:14:29Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > [Link](http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17763678-2,00.html) > > It’s not a hugely populated area, but it could cause plenty of damage to the mining and energy infrastructure. At any time there are usually 10-20 [bulk cargo ships](http://www.vialang.com/images/gloss_ship/ore_carrier_c_marseille.jpg) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/17 "2006-01-09T04:38:24Z")
They really do spin the opposite direction down there: [Katrina](http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=264352) [Clare](http://www.bom.gov.au/gms/IDE00035.latest.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/18 "2006-01-09T04:44:44Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/19 "2006-01-09T06:41:11Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > P.S., I’m not an Aussie, but will become one on the 26th of January! Very patriotic 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056/20 "2006-01-09T12:04:04Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > I’m in Broome, in the North East corner of this [cyclone threat map](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60277.shtml). > > 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. 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/category-3-cyclone-approaching-the-wa-coast/339056.md?page=2)