BOM: Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica reaches category four severity

Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica Forecast Track Map (BOM)

March 21, 2019: Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica has reached a category four severity with major impact for the Pilbara coast likely over the weekend.

According to Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Australia, at 8:00 pm AWST, Tropical Cyclone Veronica was located within 35 kilometres of 17.3 degrees South, 117.3 degrees East , 360 kilometres north northwest of Port Hedland and 385 kilometres north of Karratha.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica, a Category 4 system, is moving slowly towards the Pilbara coast. The cyclone should continue its south to southwest track tonight and Friday before taking a more south southeast track on Saturday. Whilst it is possible that the cyclone may weaken before reaching the Pilbara coast, a severe coastal impact is likely, BOM reported.

Widespread very heavy rainfall conducive to major flooding is likely along parts of the Pilbara coast over the weekend. Heavy rainfall may extend through the inland Pilbara as the system moves inland. 

People along the Pilbara coast are warned of the potential for a very dangerous storm tide as the cyclone approaches the coast over the weekend. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with damaging waves and very dangerous coastal inundation.

Following another Tropical Cyclone Trevor, authorities have already declared a state of emergency in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia.