Summary
A low pressure system developed over land near Wyndham on 21 January and moved north over the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf during 22 and 23 January. The system then tracked southwest across the Kimberley before moving over open water north of Broome again later on 25 January. The system reached cyclone strength and was named Bianca at 2 am AWST (Western Standard Time) 26 January (18 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) 25 January) and tracked west southwest, parallel to the Pilbara coastline. The system intensified, reaching Category3 at 2 pm AWST 27 January (06 UTC 27 January). Bianca then moved southwest and reached a peak intensity of Category 4 at 8 am AWST 28 January (00 UTC 28 January). Bianca began to weaken by 2 am AWST 29 January (18 UTC 28 January) as it moved south over cooler SST's and experienced increased wind shear. The system eventually dissipated over open water to the west of Perth, never crossing the Western Australian coastline.
The passage of Bianca produced no known significant damage but did produce heavy rainfall in the Kimberley and coastal parts of the Pilbara. The system also caused higher than normal tides along the Pilbara and west coasts.
For more information see the TC Bianca Report (pdf).
Track and Intensity
