Cyclone Nicholas heading for the Kimberley coast
A tropical cyclone watch has been issued for the Kimberley region of northwest Australia as cyclone Nicholas intensifies.
Tropical cyclone Nicholas developed from a tropical low earlier in the week and is heading slowly towards land at 4 mph (6 km/h). The system is roughly about 267 miles (430 km) away from Broome, and is heading east northeast towards Australia, with it veering to a more southerly direction later today.
Nicholas is currently a category 1 storm and is expected to intensify over the next few days due to favourable ocean heat content and good outflow aloft. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, maximum sustained wind speeds have reached 70 mph (113 km/h) with gusts in excess of 85 mph (137 km/h). Cyclone watches are in place for communities between Cockatoo Island and Bidyadanga with the risk of gales developing over the next 24 hours along the Kimberley coast.
If Nicholas becomes a severe tropical storm and remains slow moving, then widespread flooding could be inevitable for many parts of Kimberley along with storm surge and coastal flooding. Residents have been urged to secure their properties and make sure that emergency supplies are stocked up.
With cyclone Nicholas moving so slowly, it’s likely that the storm won’t make landfall until Sunday. Further updates will appear here.
