PDC Weather Wall

April 2013
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Mar		May »
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30

Tropical Cyclone Activity Report – Pacific / Indian Oceans

Tropical cyclone 23P (Zane) is now active in the northern Coral Sea…located approximately 135 NM north-northwest of Willis Island, Australia (Strengthening tropical cyclone…sustained winds of 60 knots, with gusts to near 75 knots)

PDC Global Hazards Atlas displaying 3 hour precipitation accumulation, strengthening tropical cyclone 23P (Zane), with JTWC positions, segments and winds…over the north Coral Sea

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) is reporting a tropical cyclone in the northern Coral Sea, located approximately 135 NM north-north-west of Willis Island, Australia. This new tropical cyclone named 23P (Zane) has tracked west-southwest at near 07 knots over the past six hours. Satellite imagery shows a near 100 NM diameter central dense overcast, with a 6 NM cloud-filled eye. Willis Island looping radar imagery shows the precipitation associated with TC Zane. Surface observations from Willis Island indicate sustained surface winds ranging between 30-35 knots (35-40 mph).

During the past 12 hours, TC Zane has undergone a rapid intensification (RI), and due to this action, the JTWC has significantly increased the winds from 35 knots to 60 knots. Favorable environmental conditions remain in place, with continued intensification expected through the next 24 hours. TC Zane will peak at 85 knot sustained winds…which is just prior to making landfall. After TC 23P strikes the Queensland coast, moving over the Cape York Peninsula, it will re-emerge over the Gulf of Carpentaria. As it moves back over the Gulf however, it is forecast to weaken through the remainder of the forecast period…due to increasing vertical wind shear.

According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology: Areas of heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, are expected to develop across parts of far northern Queensland north of Cape Tribulation today as the system approaches the coast

TROPICAL CYCLONE ZANE, CATEGORY 2, with wind gusts up to 160km/h is moving towards the west and is expected to develop a west-northwest track during this morning and cross the far northern Queensland coast between Orford Ness and Cape Melville on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning

DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts up to 160 km/hr may develop between Cape Grenville and Cape Melville late Wednesday. GALES are expected to develop about coastal areas between Orford Ness and Cape Tribulation during Wednesday morning and may extend further north and west to Cape York and the western side of Cape York Peninsula north of Mapoon, overnight Wednesday or early Thursday.

Coastal residents between Cape Grenville and Cape Melville are specifically warned of the dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the coast. The sea is likely to rise steadily up to a level well above the normal tide, with damaging waves and flooding of some low-lying areas close to the shoreline. 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 follow instructions regarding evacuation of the area if advised to do so by the authorities.