[Australia]: Australian Region Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

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Overview​

Tropical cyclones are violent, spiralling wind and rain systems that threaten lives and property at sea and on land. They can cause disruption, damage and destruction far beyond the coast, including extensive flooding. These powerful storms are one of our climate influences. Australia's most cyclone-prone area is the north-west coast between Broome and Exmouth. Tropical cyclones cross this coast more often than anywhere else around the continent. Other areas such as north Queensland and the Top End also get a high number of tropical cyclones. Australia's tropical cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April. They can happen at other times in our region but this is rare. To help keep coastal communities safe, we: Keep a 24-hour watch on developing cyclones in our region Provide a tropical cyclones forecast for the 7 days ahead Deliver seasonal outlooks for Australia and the South Pacific Issue watches and warnings when a cyclone is expected to affect Australia's coast or territories Tropical cyclones in the Australian region are monitored by four Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs) in Perth, Darwin, Brisbane and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. Cyclone warnings will be issued in certain colour-coded messages in accordance to their severity: Tropical Low Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Bertie​

A weak tropical low persisted on 17 November at a low latitude about 740 km (460 mi) west-southwest of the Indonesia island of Sumatra. Early on 18 November, the TCWC Perth issued a gale warning on the system; at the time, the system consisted of cycling convection in association with several small circulations. The circulations organized into a well-defined center of circulation, and at 0000 UTC on 19 November it was classified as Tropical Cyclone Bertie about 835 km (519 mi) northwest of the Cocos Islands. The storm tracked southwestward around the western periphery of a mid-level ridge between Australia and Indonesia. Environmental conditions generally favored further strengthening, with good outflow though moderate wind shear, and late on 19 November the TCWC Perth initiated advisories on Bertie. Tropical Cyclone Bertie gradually strengthened and became a Severe Tropical Cyclone on 21 November. The next day, TCWC Perth issued its last advisory on the cyclone, as it was expected to cross 90ºE, which separates the TCWC Perth and the Météo-France areas of responsibility. However, Bertie turned due southward and the cyclone remained just east of 90ºE, during which the TCWC Perth estimated Bertie attained peak winds of 185 km/h (115 mph). Early on 23 November, the JTWC assessed the cyclone as reaching winds of 210 km/h (130 mph), which is the equivalent to a marginal Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. On 24 November, the cyclone crossed into the area of responsibility of the Météo-France La Réunion (Alexander). ========================================================================= HIGH SEAS WEATHER WARNING FOR METAREA 10 ISSUED BY THE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH AT 1828UTC 21 NOVEMBER 2005 HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA Please be aware, wind gusts can be a further 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum waves may be up to twice the height. SITUATION At 1800UTC Severe Tropical Cyclone Bertie located within 20 nautical miles of Latitude ten decimal three south [10.3S] Longitude ninety one decimal seven east [91.7] Recent movement south southwest at 4 knots. Maximum winds 75 knots. Central pressure 960 hPa. AREA AFFECTED Within 100 nautical miles of the centre, extending to 120 nautical miles in western quadrants. FORECAST Within 25 nautical miles of the centre, winds to 80 knots decreasing below 64 knots by 22/1800UTC. Very high seas and heavy swell. Within 40 nautical miles winds above 48 knots with very rough to high seas and heavy swell. Within 100 nautical miles of the centre extending to 120 nautical miles in western quadrants, winds above 34 knots with rough to very rough seas and moderate to heavy swell. At 0600UTC 22 November: 11.4 south 91.3 east 965 hPa. Winds to 70 knots near centre. At 1800UTC 22 November: 12.7 south 90.6 east 975 hPa. Winds to 60 knots near centre. Next warning issued by 0100 UTC 22 November 2005. ========================================================================= HIGH SEAS WEATHER WARNING FOR METAREA 10 ISSUED BY THE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH AT 0041UTC 22 NOVEMBER 2005 HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA Please be aware, wind gusts can be a further 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum waves may be up to twice the height. SITUATION At 0000UTC Severe Tropical Cyclone Bertie located within 20 nautical miles of latitude ten decimal nine degrees South [10.9 S] longitude ninety decimal nine degrees East [90.9 E] Recent movement southwest at 7 knots. Maximum winds 70 knots. Central pressure 965 hPa. AREA AFFECTED Within 90 nautical miles of the centre, extending to 120 nautical miles in western quadrants. FORECAST Sustained winds to 70 knots near centre decreasing to below 64 knots by 22/1200UTC. Within 25 nautical miles of centre winds above 64 knots with very high seas and heavy swell. Within 40 nautical miles of centre winds above 48 knots with very rough to high seas and heavy swell. Within 90 nautical miles of centre, extending to within 120 nautical miles in western quadrants, winds above 34 knots with rough to very rough seas and moderate to heavy swell. At 1200UTC 22 November: 12.4 south 90.1 east 970 hPa. Winds to 60 knots near centre. At 0000UTC 23 November: 13.5 south 89.5 east 980 hPa. Winds to 55 knots near centre. Next warning issued by 0700 UTC 22 November 2005. ========================================================================= HIGH SEAS WEATHER WARNING FOR METAREA 10 ISSUED BY THE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH AT 0639UTC 22 NOVEMBER 2005 HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA Please be aware, wind gusts can be a further 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum waves may be up to twice the height. SITUATION At 0600UTC Severe Tropical Cyclone Bertie located within 20 nautical miles of latitude eleven decimal eight degrees South [11.8 S] longitude ninety decimal five degrees East [90.5 E] Recent movement southwest at 10 knots. Maximum winds 80 knots. Central pressure 955 hPa. AREA AFFECTED Within 90 nautical miles of the centre. FORECAST Sustained winds to 80 knots near centre decreasing to below 64 knots by 23/0600UTC. Within 25 nautical miles of centre winds above 64 knots with very high seas and heavy swell. Within 40 nautical miles of centre winds above 48 knots with very rough to high seas and heavy swell. Within 90 nautical miles of centre, winds above 34 knots with rough to very rough seas and moderate to heavy swell. At 1800UTC 22 November: 13.0 south 89.5 east 960 hPa. Winds to 75 knots near centre. At 0600UTC 23 November: 14.2 south 88.8 east 970 hPa. Winds to 60 knots near centre. Next warning issued by 1300 UTC 22 November 2005. ========================================================================= HIGH SEAS WEATHER WARNING FOR METAREA 10 ISSUED BY THE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH AT 1249UTC 22 NOVEMBER 2005 HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE WESTERN AREA Please be aware, wind gusts can be a further 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum waves may be up to twice the height. SITUATION At 1200UTC Severe Tropical Cyclone Bertie located within 15 nautical miles of latitude eleven decimal nine degrees South [11.9 S] longitude ninety decimal four degrees East [90.4 E] Recent movement south southwest at 7 knots. Maximum winds 85 knots. Central pressure 945 hPa. AREA AFFECTED Within 120 nautical miles of the centre. FORECAST Sustained winds to 90 knots near centre. Within 25 nautical miles of centre winds above 64 knots with very high seas and heavy swell. Within 40 nautical miles of centre winds above 48 knots with very rough to high seas and heavy swell. Within 120 nautical miles of centre, winds above 34 knots with rough to very rough seas and moderate to heavy swell. At 0000UTC 23 November: 13.1 south 89.5 east 940 hPa. Winds to 90 knots near centre. At 1200UTC 23 November: 14.2 south 89.1 east 940 hPa. Winds to 90 knots near centre. The next warning will be issued by La Reunion Meteorological Service.

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