Summary
Tropical Cyclone Blanche was a Category 2 tropical cyclone that made landfall in the northeast Kimberley district of Western Australia on 6 March 2017.
A weak tropical low was identified on 2 March 2017 southwest of New Guinea. The tropical low moved west until overnight on 3 March, when the low made an abrupt turn towards the south and began to strengthen. The tropical low steadily developed during 4 March and adopted a southwest track, which was maintained until landfall in Western Australia on 6 March.
The tropical low passed directly over the Tiwi Islands (Bathurst and Melville Island) of the Northern Territory during the early morning of 5 March and produced a record 24-hour rainfall total at Point Fawcett Automatic Weather Station (AWS) of 384 mm. After moving back over water to the south of the Tiwi Islands, the tropical low experienced a brief, strong period of development during which time a 91 km/h wind gust was observed at Point Fawcett AWS on Bathurst Island.
The tropical low moved further south during the 5 March and reached tropical cyclone intensity at 1200 UTC 5 March, approximately 200 km west of Darwin and 340 km north northeast of Wyndham. Tropical Cyclone Blanche strengthened quickly to a Category 2 tropical cyclone over the Timor Sea. Landfall occurred near Berkeley River Mouth on the northeast Kimberley coast, between Kalumburu and Wyndham, at Category 2 intensity at 0300 UTC 6 March. Tropical Cyclone Blanche weakened steadily as it moved inland over the north Kimberley and was downgraded to a tropical low 9 hours after landfall, when located approximately 110 km west of Wyndham.
There were minimal impacts caused by Tropical Cyclone Blanche due to the relatively small size of the tropical cyclone and the low population density in the areas affected. Minor damage was reported at a lodge near the Berkeley River on the northeast Kimberley coast. Heavy rainfall occurred near the path of the tropical cyclone, which caused moderate flooding in parts of the Kimberley.
For more information see the TC Blanche Report (pdf).
Track and Intensity
