Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 2:54 pm WST on Monday 20 January 2025

Headline:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Sean still causing gales and heavy rain to the far western Pilbara coast but conditions easing as it moves away from the coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Onslow to Ningaloo, including Exmouth and Onslow.

Watch zone: None.

Cancelled zone: Mardie to Onslow.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Sean 11U at 2:00 pm AWST:
Intensity: Category 4, sustained winds near the centre of 165 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 230 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 30 kilometres of 21.7 degrees South 111.6 degrees East, estimated to be 260 kilometres west of Exmouth and 365 kilometres west of Onslow.
Movement: southwest at 22 kilometres per hour.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Sean is moving to the southwest away from the WA coast but gales are only slowly easing from the east. The cyclone continues to intensify and is now at category 4 and should peak overnight.

Hazards:
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible between Onslow and North West Cape for the remainder of today. LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL is possible about North West Cape this afternoon and evening. Flood Warnings are current for parts of the Pilbara and northern Gascoyne regions.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are occurring at coastal and island communities between Onslow and Ningaloo, including Onslow and Exmouth. These winds are expected to gradually ease from the east and be below gale-force by midnight tonight.

A storm tide is forecast between Onslow and Exmouth during this afternoon's high tide. Large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours.

Recommended Action:
Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app.



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