Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol Expected to Weaken Before Landfall in WA

Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol intensified to category 4 but is expected to weaken before landfall in Western Australia. It will bring heavy rainfall and damaging winds, particularly to the Kimberley coast, marking the 8th severe cyclone this season.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol initially strengthened to category 4 after a rapid intensification, rising from category 1 on Tuesday night to category 4 by Wednesday. As of 2 AM AWST on Thursday, the cyclone was located about 510 km northwest of Broome.

Errol shifted direction sharply on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, moving west before turning left, which led to its entrance into a less favorable environmental zone. This transition is expected to accelerate its weakening as it approaches the coast of Western Australia.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s track map, Errol is anticipated to diminish quickly before reaching the Kimberley coast on Thursday and Friday. The cyclone is projected to make landfall as a category 1 or a tropical low by Friday night or Saturday morning.

Despite this weakening trend, Errol is still forecasted to produce heavy rainfall across parts of the Kimberley region from Friday into the weekend, alongside potentially damaging winds. The most affected areas are expected to be between Kuri Bay and Beagle Bay.

Errol is marked as the 8th severe tropical cyclone in Australia this season, demonstrating the highest occurrence of severe cyclones in a single season over 19 years.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol, initially categorized as a category 4, is predicted to weaken before landfall in Western Australia as it moves into less favorable conditions. Despite its reduction in strength, it will still bring heavy rainfall and possible damaging winds to the Kimberley region. This cyclone marks an unusual frequency of severe weather events in the area this season, with Errol being the eighth of its kind.

Original Source: www.weatherzone.com.au