Cyclone Melanie moves away from the coast of Australia by Rob McElwee
Tropical cyclone Melanie, which has been heading towards the northwest of Australia changed direction over the weekend, and has now begun to move away from the coast. Yesterday Melanie, a category two storm, was speeding towards the country’s coast, packing winds of up to 155kph (96mph). Residents were bracing themselves for the onset of strong winds and heavy rain, but over the course of the night the cyclone changed direction and is now heading south-west towards the Indian Ocean.
Melanie is the first storm of the November- April season to form in Australia’s ‘cyclone alley’, which is home to some of the worlds biggest oil and gas fields. The Bureau of Meteorology continues to issue warnings for coastal areas between Coral Bay and Mardie, as the cyclone is still expected to generate strong winds as it moves away.
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