WA: Cyclone John most powerful ever

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-1999
WA: Cyclone John most powerful ever

The most powerful cyclone ever recorded in Australia, packing winds of up to 300 kilometres
per hour, has crossed the coast of Western Australia.

It crossed this morning at Whim Creek in the state's north-west.

Emergency services predict bigger coastal towns will escape its full wrath.

JOHN is a category five cyclone, bringing with it heavy rain and flooding.

Bureau of Meteorology cyclone forecaster BRIAN BOWASE says JOHN is unequivocally the
most powerful cyclone ever recorded in Australia.

He says the cyclone is stronger than both cyclone VANCE, which destroyed much of Exmouth
earlier this year, and cyclone TRACY which devastated Darwin in 1974.

Mr BOWASE says had JOHN crossed the coast at Karratha, it would have been similar to
TRACY in terms of its destruction.

He says it's just lucky JOHN crossed at the one-pub town of Whim Creek.

AAP RTV jn

KEYWORD: JOHN (PERTH)

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