AceBreakingNews – UPDATE – Residents on the remote Cocos Keeling Islands have been warned to expect strong winds and heavy rain as their first cyclone of the season makes a close pass by.

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Tropical Cyclone Anggrek was formally declared on Tuesday morning, with the Bureau of Meteorology expecting it to intensify into a category two system.

A blue alert has been issued for the islands, which are almost 4,000 kilometres from the Australian mainland, and home to 600 people

The Australian Federal Police said residents should stay across updates from local TV, radio and social media channels.

The Bureau said there was the possibility of damaging wind gusts of up to 120km per hour on Wednesday and Thursday and rainfall would increase as the system moved closer.

Senior Meteorologist Joey Rawson said the most likely scenario was the cyclone moving away from Cocos Keeling Islands, but there was also a chance it would head towards it.

“There is some uncertainty as it drops south and is in line with the Cocos Keeling Islands,” he said. 

“There is some risk it may not go west away from the islands but go east over the islands.”

Mr Rawson said the tropical low could develop into a significant rain system if it moved toward the islands. 

“There is a slight risk that even if it does move below tropical cyclone intensity, if it does move in the direction of Cocos Keeling Islands, it may produce a lot of rain,” he said. 

He said there could be up to 200-300 millimetres of rain.

Rough ocean conditions could also have an impact on the northern side of the Cocos Islands.

As of Tuesday morning, Cyclone Anggrek was sitting 455km north-west of Cocos Island.

As it formed outside of Australia’s area of responsibility, the system received its name from the Tropical Cyclone Watch Centre in Jakarta. 

Residents prepare

Residents of Cocos Keeling Islands have begun their routine of preparation as the threat of a cyclone grows. 

Deter Gerhard, who has lived on the west island for 30 years, said cyclone preparation was just part of life on the islands. 

“Time to go around, tidy your yard, look for loose things, and put things away,” he said. 

“It’ll be an ongoing process over the next day or two.”

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