Cyclone returns to sweep through coast
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln is expected to redevelop and impact the northwest coast of Western Australia on Friday and Saturday.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting the cyclone will move off the west Kimberly coast on Wednesday and move south-west towards the west Pilbara coast.
Gales with damaging wind gusts of 90km/h are expected between Roebourne and Karratha on Friday, and the risks of gales at 100km/h are expected from Friday evening to Saturday, reaching further south to Ningaloo.
The cyclone is expected to reach tropical cyclone intensity on Friday as a category two.
Further out to sea, the gusts at the centre of the cyclone could reach 140km/h.
The coast will also see heavy rainfall and high tides over those two days.
BOM is issuing a Blue Alert, urging people in or around the affected areas to “prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch portable radio, food and water”.
Duty forecaster Jessica Lingard said tropical cyclones were difficult to forecast but “the models that we are looking at indicate that it’s unlikely to see strengthening on Thursday”.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said it was preparing for the impact of the cyclone across the area.
Several events have been cancelled as a result of the cyclone, including a funeral and a planned pilot strike from those working for Network Aviation.
The cyclone caused more than 100mm of rainfall within six hours when it passed over Halls Creek earlier in the week.
The cyclone is one of many weather events hitting Australia this week.
Heatwave warnings are currently present in WA and Tasmania, with fire weather warnings in Victoria and Tasmania, and flood warnings across Queensland.
Both Victoria and Tasmania are being affected by dry weather conditions that are raising the risk of a fire.
In Victoria, extreme fire danger is forecast for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, South West and Central districts.
In Tasmania, extreme fire danger is forecast for the East Coast, Midlands, Upper Derwent Valley and South East districts.
