WA: Melanie unlikely to dump rain in the Pilbara

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2007
WA: Melanie unlikely to dump rain in the Pilbara

PERTH, Dec 30 AAP - Category two tropical cyclone Melanie continues to run parallel
to the West Australian Pilbara coast today but is unlikely to dump much rain.

The storm was 410 kilometres northwest of Karratha and 415km north of Exmouth at 0940
(WDT) today and travelling southwest at 18km/h.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Andrew Burton said no significant rain was
expected and cyclone warnings for the Pilbara coast were likely to be lifted later today.

"It is going to head away from the coast ... there is still a warning on, in case of
a glancing blow on the cape, but later this afternoon we expect to take the warnings off,"

Mr Burton said.

There is still potential for gales with gusts to 120km/h to develop in coastal communities
between Coral Bay and Mardie.

AAP lk/jfm/mn

KEYWORD: MELANIE

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