60,000 without power as Mangga arrives in Western Australia
By
Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published May 21, 2020 5:26 PM EDT
Eastern India and western Bangladesh has been pummeled by Cyclone Amphan, one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in decades.
Although the tropical season for Australia officially concluded on April 30, a late-season cyclone briefly formed off the country's western coast.
Southwest of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, a tropical low churned over the warm waters of the South Indian Ocean, becoming Tropical Cyclone Mangga late Thursday night, local time.
The storm passed over the Cocos (Keeling) Islands with gale-force winds and rounds of heavy rain. As of Friday evening, the highest wind speed reported at the Cocos Islands airport was 61 km/h (38 mph) with the strongest winds remaining off to the south of the area.
By early Saturday morning, local time, Mangga had weakened to post-tropical status.
“Although Mangga become post-tropical, it merged with a [storm system] Saturday night, local time, as it approached the western coast of Australia," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio said.
Conditions gradually deteriorated across much of Western Australia through Sunday as heavy, windswept rain arrived.
Storm related calls flooded into the Department of Fire and Emergency services as strong winds impacted areas from Pilbara to Margaret River. Widespread power outages were reported along the coastal areas.
The strong winds knocked out power to as many as 60,000 customers along Australia's western shores according to an ABC news report on Sunday.
Winds reached as high as 82 km/h (51 mph) in Perth on Sunday. Closer to the water, wind gusts reached 117 km/h (72 mph) at Cape Naturaliste.
In addition to the heavy rain and gusty winds, seas became very rough and dangerous for mariners.
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Much of the heavy rain that arrived along the coast began to dissipate into Sunday evening as the storm moved over the drier air Western Australia. But some areas of rain are expected to dampen parts of northwest Australia through the middle of the week.
Some areas of rain can become heavy enough to cause localized flooding.
Motorists should remember the dangers of driving through flooded roadways and avoid doing so. Residents in these areas should have an emergency plan in place should rising flood waters require them to evacuate.
The tropical season for the waters surrounding Australia officially begins on Nov. 1 and continues through April 30; however, it is not uncommon for tropical activity to occur through May.
Already this May, a tropical depression formed and lingered off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Hurricane
60,000 without power as Mangga arrives in Western Australia
By Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published May 21, 2020 5:26 PM EDT
Eastern India and western Bangladesh has been pummeled by Cyclone Amphan, one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in decades.
Although the tropical season for Australia officially concluded on April 30, a late-season cyclone briefly formed off the country's western coast.
Southwest of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, a tropical low churned over the warm waters of the South Indian Ocean, becoming Tropical Cyclone Mangga late Thursday night, local time.
The storm passed over the Cocos (Keeling) Islands with gale-force winds and rounds of heavy rain. As of Friday evening, the highest wind speed reported at the Cocos Islands airport was 61 km/h (38 mph) with the strongest winds remaining off to the south of the area.
By early Saturday morning, local time, Mangga had weakened to post-tropical status.
“Although Mangga become post-tropical, it merged with a [storm system] Saturday night, local time, as it approached the western coast of Australia," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio said.
Conditions gradually deteriorated across much of Western Australia through Sunday as heavy, windswept rain arrived.
Storm related calls flooded into the Department of Fire and Emergency services as strong winds impacted areas from Pilbara to Margaret River. Widespread power outages were reported along the coastal areas.
The strong winds knocked out power to as many as 60,000 customers along Australia's western shores according to an ABC news report on Sunday.
Winds reached as high as 82 km/h (51 mph) in Perth on Sunday. Closer to the water, wind gusts reached 117 km/h (72 mph) at Cape Naturaliste.
In addition to the heavy rain and gusty winds, seas became very rough and dangerous for mariners.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Much of the heavy rain that arrived along the coast began to dissipate into Sunday evening as the storm moved over the drier air Western Australia. But some areas of rain are expected to dampen parts of northwest Australia through the middle of the week.
Some areas of rain can become heavy enough to cause localized flooding.
Motorists should remember the dangers of driving through flooded roadways and avoid doing so. Residents in these areas should have an emergency plan in place should rising flood waters require them to evacuate.
Related:
The tropical season for the waters surrounding Australia officially begins on Nov. 1 and continues through April 30; however, it is not uncommon for tropical activity to occur through May.
Already this May, a tropical depression formed and lingered off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo