WA: Cyclone John upgraded to category four cyclone

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-1999
WA: Cyclone John upgraded to category four cyclone

SYDNEY, Dec 14 AAP - A cyclone hovering off the Western Australian coast has been upgraded
to a category four cyclone, the second-highest cyclone rating.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned coastal residents living between Wallal and Dampier
to expect gales with gusts up to 100kph today.

At midnight (WST), tropical cyclone John was hovering 315km north of Port Headland
and 380km north-north east of Karratha.

It was moving south-south-west at 10kph, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Forecasters said they expected the most severe conditions tonight and tomorrow morning.

An SES spokeswoman said a number of communities had been placed on blue alert, which
is a warning the cyclone may hit in the next 48 hours.

This was likely to be reassessed about 7am (WST), she said.

AAP km/was

KEYWORD: JOHN

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