Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol to Weaken Before Landfall in Western Australia

Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol reached category 4 but will weaken before landfall in WA this weekend. Expected to make landfall as a category 1 cyclone, it will bring heavy rain and damaging winds, marking the eighth severe cyclone this season, the highest in 19 years.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol has intensified rapidly, reaching category 4 on Wednesday evening. However, it is expected to weaken significantly prior to making landfall in Western Australia (WA) this weekend. As of 2 a.m. AWST on Thursday, it was located approximately 510 kilometers northwest of Broome.

The cyclone, initially at category 1 on Tuesday night, made a notable shift to category 4 by Wednesday. Following a westward trajectory, Errol changed course to the left on Wednesday night, entering an environment that is less conducive for its maintenance, leading to anticipated weakening as it nears the coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology provided a track map indicating that Errol will diminish in strength as it approaches the Kimberley coast on Thursday and Friday. It is projected to make landfall as a category 1 tropical cyclone or a tropical low by Friday night or Saturday morning.

Even with the expected weakening, Errol is still likely to bring heavy rainfall to parts of the Kimberley from Friday into the weekend, along with potential damaging winds, particularly between Kuri Bay and Beagle Bay. Remarkably, Errol marks the eighth severe tropical cyclone in the Australian region this season, signifying the highest count of severe tropical cyclones in one season for the past 19 years.

In summary, Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol, after rapidly intensifying to category 4, is forecasted to weaken before it makes landfall in Western Australia. Despite this weakening, it is expected to deliver substantial rainfall and potentially damaging winds in the Kimberley region this weekend. This cyclone underscores a notably active season for severe tropical cyclones in Australia, as it represents the eighth such storm this season.

Original Source: www.weatherzone.com.au