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Cyclone Veronica forms off Kimberley coast

Tom ZaunmayrPilbara News
Cyclone Veronica
Camera IconCyclone Veronica Credit: Bureau of Meteorology

Cyclone Veronica has formed overnight and will potentially pose a threat to the Pilbara coast which has so far been untouched this wet season

It was 400km off the Broome coast late yesterday and was not initially forecasted to reach cyclone strength until tonight.

There is still uncertainty as to whether it will impact the Pilbara coast or track out to the Indian Ocean before it all falls apart.

Weather Bureau senior fore-caster Craig Earl-Spurr said communities should be prepared to heed warnings.

“Certainly coastal communities of the West Pilbara, I would encourage to stay up to date with information.”

“There is still possibility it pushes off further west and we can breathe sigh of relief ... but there is a fair way to go to know the risk.”

The threat comes as Exmouth prepares to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the devastating cyclone Vance, which brought record wind speeds and caused $35 million damage on March 22, 1999.

The town’s GAMEX fishing competition is also due to start this weekend.

Mr Earl-Spurr warned anglers they should be cautious.

“If this system moves into the Exmouth region I don’t think too many people would want to be out on a boat in that,” he said.

Pilbara residents will hope anywhere is good enough for some rain after what has been a dry wet season to date.

Exmouth has not registered a drop of rain for 156 days and Karratha (23.6mm) and Onslow (22.6mm) have recorded just 12 per cent of their wet season average.

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