The northern part of Australia is all set for Twin Cyclones. The first storm Blake has made a landfall this morning and is currently centered at 120 km East southeast of Port Hedland near Shay Gap. In the coming 24 hours, the system is expected to weaken and is moving in a south southwestward direction. Blake is packed with winds of 65 km/hour which is gusting to 80 kmph. However, now as the system will weaken, it is said to dissipate over land itself.
While the storm has already made a landfall, there is another coming up in close proximity of Gulf of Carpentaria. At the moment, the system is a depression and tracking south southwestward. Its potential for becoming a storm in the next 24 hours remains a medium. This is because, some factors are favourable and others are not. The sea surface temperatures are aptly warm at 31-32 degrees Celsius. However, the warmth is being partly offset by high wind shear.
It is a marginal environment for any significant development. The system, at the moment is centred at 10.8 degrees south and 137.6 degrees east, about 180 km north northeast of Gove.
Though it is heading south southwest, towards Arnhem land, the upcoming storm won't go to gulf of Carpentaria. The proximity of Gulf of Carpentaria will give it sustenance in terms of moisture. Otherwise, all factors are not very favourable. In 24 hours, it may become a cyclone, but its lifeline will be short and should be making landfall over Ramingining.
Strong winds, heavy rains associated with the system are to be seen as the system moves closer. These twin Cyclones are over the northern region, which is why these rains will not have any benefit over other parts of Australia which have been battling mammoth bushfires, which has wreaked havoc over the southeastern region.
Moreover, the heat will once again come into play as temperatures will soar in the coming weekend, and may reach in the mid 40s, aggravating the bushfire situation once again.
Image Credit: CIMSS