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Cyclone Glenda hits Western Australia
Western Australia is still recovering from the impact of cyclone Emma (February 28, 06) and again it is hit by Cyclone Glenda. Glenda has made a landfall halfway between the towns of Onslow and Karratha. At landfall, it was a Category 4 cyclone with wind speed of around 130 km/hr and gusts expected to reach 250 km/hr. It is moving in south southwesterly direction at a speed of 25km/hr. Gale warning has been issued for the areas likely to be affected by the cyclone.
Path of Glenda
A tropical low entered Joseph Bonaparte Gulf on March 21. The low after making landfall just west of Northern Territory moved into Indian Ocean on late March 26. on March 27 it quickly strengthened into a Tropical Cyclone Glenda and its wind speed increased from 35 knots to 115 knots and pressure dropped from 990 hPa to 915 hPa. It attained Category 5 status on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on March 28 before weakening slightly. It made landfall on 30th March as Category 4 hurricane. It has further weakened and the central pressure has risen sharply. It has started to dissipate as Significant Tropical Cyclone over land.
Impact of Glenda
The impact of cyclone Glenda was felt since March 24 itself. It brought heavy rain to North Kimberley District and flooded the roads. On March 30 power lines were down, more than 2000 homes were without electricity in Karratha. Evacuations were carried out in Karratha and gale warning was issued from the region.
The State Emergency Service (FESA) advices of the following alerts
RED ALERT: People in or near the communities of Point Samson, Wickham, Roebourne, Karratha, Dampier, Pannawonica, Mardie and Onslow should move to shelter.
YELLOW ALERT: People in or near Exmouth should commence action in preparation for the possibility of destructive winds.
BLUE ALERT: People in other communities between Carnarvon and Whim Creek, including Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Tom Price and Paraburdoo should start taking precautions.
ALL CLEAR WITH CAUTION: People in the communities of De Grey, Port and South Hedland.
excerpts from BBC:
A major cyclone, Glenda; has begun crossing Australia's north-west coast as thousands of residents ride it out. The shore was being lashed by 130 km/h (80 mph) winds.
Onslow, a fishing town of more than 800 people in the remote Pilbara region, was expected to feel the worst of Cyclone Glenda, meteorologists said.
Australia's north-east is still recovering from Cyclone Larry, which hit the area two weeks ago. That storm, which made landfall in the state of Queensland, caused no fatalities but left a damage bill which is expected to top A$1bn ($707m).
Pilbara's 10,000 residents have been advised to seek shelter. Hundreds have left the area.
The storm first hit land at about 1600 local time (0800 GMT) on 30th March 2006.
Emergency workers feared Cyclone Glenda could be as dangerous as Larry, or Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the US city of New Orleans in August, 2005.
Global mining giant Rio Tinto has halted its huge iron ore shipping operation in Port Hedland ahead of Glenda's arrival. Oil firms have also moved their floating rigs out of the path of the cyclone.
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