Karratha and nearby coastal towns in Western Australia’s Pilbara have been told to brace for destructive conditions as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell tracks close to shore with authorities warning wind gusts could exceed 200 km/h overnight.
An emergency warning has been issued for parts of the coast, urging residents to stay inside and keep checking for official updates as the system intensifies.
The Bureau of Meteorology said winds of up to 220 km/h could wreak havoc in coastal areas around Karratha, Dampier and Wickham as the cyclone passes close by.
Joey Rawson, duty forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology said that “There’s still a slight chance it may jump to a category four system.”
Emergency services have increased the number of staff in the area and warned that flying debris can be as dangerous as the wind.
Todd Pender, DFES incident controller said that “It’s not the wind so much as the debris being picked up.”
Michelle reached cyclone strength late on Friday and was a category two system on Saturday with forecasts suggesting it could further strengthen into a severe category three cyclone while moving along the Pilbara coast.
The Bureau has flagged a coastal crossing near Onslow late Sunday into Monday, depending on how the system tracks through the weekend.
Preparations have been stepped up across the Pilbara, including sandbagging and last minute supply runs as widespread heavy rain increases the risk of flash flooding.
Industry and transport have also been disrupted with ports in the region being cleared and closures announced as the cyclone approaches, adding pressure to a coastline that doubles as a major export corridor.
