Australian Bureau: Cyclone Lua To Worsen As It Nears Pilbara Coast
March 15 2012 - 6:01PM
Dow Jones News
Category-2 Tropical Cyclone Lua is tracking towards Australia's
northwest Pilbara coast and is expected to intensify into a severe
tropical cyclone this morning and remain severe through to
landfall, the Bureau of Meteorology reported early Friday.
At 1500 GMT Thursday, TC Lua was located 680 kilometers
northwest of Port Hedland and moving east-southeast at 17
kilometers an hour, it said in a statement.
"It is expected to accelerate towards the east Pilbara coast
during Friday" and likely bring "very destructive" winds with gusts
in excess of 170 kilometers an hour in coastal areas near the
center of the cyclone on Saturday, it said.
Gales are expected to extend inland through the central and
eastern Pilbara--Australia's premier iron-ore province--and further
inland into sparsley-populated areas on Saturday and early Sunday,
it said.
U.S.-based energy firm Apache Corp. (APA) said Wednesday it has
stopped production at its Stag oil field offshore northwest
Australia because of Cyclone Lua, while Woodside Petroleum Ltd.
(WPL.AU) Tuesday halted production at four oil fields off the
northwest coast because of TC Lua.
By Ray Brindal, Dow Jones Newswires; 612 62080902;
ray.brindal@dowjones.com
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