boat people will stop for now

Cyclone risks increaseJAYNE RICKARD, The West Australian
October 27, 2010, 6:20 am

The State's North-West is urged to brace for a damaging cyclone season, with meteorology experts forecasting a higher than normal risk that a cyclone will hit before Christmas.

With the start of the State's cyclone season days away, Weather Bureau tropical cyclone meteorologist Brad Santos has warned that residents in the North-West need to prepare now.

"Sea surface temperatures off the north-west coast are warmer than usual and climate modelling suggests the current La Nina event will persist into the cyclone season," he said.

"This increases the chance of an early season cyclone and also boosts the number of cyclones we are likely to see over the whole season."

WorkSafe said it was crucial that residents living and working on land and at sea knew what to do if there was a cyclone in the area.

WorkSafe commissioner Nina Lyhne said the tragic circumstances surrounding Cyclone George in 2007 - when two people died and 22 were injured - demonstrated how a cyclone caused significant suffering.

Fishing vessels should have a list of sheltered anchorages and each vessel needed a specific action plan.