🌪️ Nature’s Fury Meets Coastal Resilience

Tropical Cyclone Sean: A Powerful System Sweeps Through Western Australia

🌀 Formation of Cyclone Sean

Tropical Cyclone Sean developed on January 20, 2025, originating as a tropical disturbance and rapidly escalating to a Category 4 system before being downgraded to Category 3.

🔍 Key conditions that fueled its intensification:

• Warm sea surface temperatures above 27°C 🌊
• Low-pressure zone at the core of development 🔻
• Minimal vertical wind shear, allowing storm stability and growth ↔️
• Coriolis effect, aiding in storm rotation and structure 🌍

🌬️ Causes of Tropical Cyclones

Understanding the environmental recipe behind such powerful storms:

• 🌡️ Warm Sea Temperatures – Critical threshold: 27°C and above
• 📉 Low Pressure Zones – Triggers convergence and uplift
• 🌀 Coriolis Force – Initiates the storm’s spin
• ⛅ Low Vertical Wind Shear – Encourages storm organisation

🔍 Structure of a Tropical Cyclone

• Eye – Calm and clear, with the lowest pressure 🌑
• Eyewall – The most violent winds and heaviest rain 🌧️
• Moisture Updrafts – Ocean warmth fuels massive cloud systems ☁️

🌧️ Effects of Tropical Cyclone Sean

📊 Record Rainfall

• Karratha recorded a historic 274 mm in just 24 hours – the highest ever for the area.
• The intense downpour led to localised flash flooding and waterlogging.

🚨 Flood Risks

• Flash floods triggered emergency alerts across the Pilbara Coast.
• Roads and homes were affected, although no major landfall spared the region from large-scale destruction.

🛟 Community Disruptions

• Emergency responders performed water rescues and dealt with power outages ⚡
• Key routes like the North West Coastal Highway faced partial disruption

🧭 Looking Ahead

As Sean drifts into cooler waters, its strength is expected to diminish, but the event serves as a powerful reminder of nature’s unpredictability. The resilience of communities and the swift action of emergency services continue to be crucial in mitigating the cyclone’s impact.