Sixth tropical cyclone declared as storm edges towards WA
Coastal communities in Western Australia should be breathing easier as Tropical Cyclone Herman is forecast to weaken over coming hours.
The Bureau of Meteorology declared the Category 4 storm was Australia's sixth tropical cyclone of the 2022/23 season as it tracked about 600km off Christmas island.
In an update early today, the bureau said Herman was moving in a south-southeast direction at 15kms/p/h.
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Tropical Cyclone Herman formed about 1700km off the north west coast of Western Australia. Weatherzone
The weather system has been gathering force offshore but is expected to lose strength through today.
"It is expected to move southeast today and begin to weaken," the bureau said.
"During the weekend it is then expected to move towards the west, further away from the Australian coast, and continue to steadily weaken."
Herman is not expected to impact the Australian mainland or any island territories.
Australia's tropical cyclone season runs from November 1 to April 30.
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The tracking map of Tropical Cyclone Herman, off the coast of WA, updated on March 31, 2023. Bureau of Meteorology
Tropical cyclones are intense low-pressure systems that form over warm ocean waters at low latitudes.
They form when the sea-surface temperature is above 26.5C, drawing their energy from warm tropical waters.
Cyclones produce gales, torrential rain and storm surges of varying intensity, depending on how low the storm's central pressure becomes.
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