Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle downgraded following widespread damage across WA’s northwest
Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle ravaged Western Australia’s category three Gascoyne region in the state’s north-west, bringing devastating winds in excess of 170 km/h and widespread heavy rainfall.
Residents of Exmouth, about 1457 kilometers north of Perth, were forced to shelter inside their properties for hours on Friday when the cyclone hit the tourist town along the Coral Coast.
Images from Exmouth show a large storm surge crashing through the canal system in a residential area, flooding homes.
The Water Corporation has urged Exmouth and Onslow residents to limit non-essential water use while crews work to repair damaged infrastructure.
“Residents in Exmouth may experience low water pressure with the potential for intermittent supply disruptions overnight due to a power outage affecting two of the town’s drilling sites,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said.
“Repairs are ongoing at Onslow to the damaged water mains which feed a large water storage tank and have the potential to disrupt supply.”
Similar scenes played out further south in Carnarvon, about 1120km north of Perth, where there were fears banana plantations would be destroyed by the cyclone.
Banana growers in the region lost nearly 50 percent of their crops during Hurricane Mitchell and heat waves in recent months and were bracing for the worst.
“If the winds are as forecast (currently expected to be 180-190 km/h) we are unlikely to have any bananas left standing,” Doriana Mangili told West.
“Trees don’t have big root systems, so anything over 100km per hour will push the bananas and then you’ll have to start over.
“Unless something miraculous happens… then we’ll probably be left with nothing (Saturday).”
Photos taken from Carnarvon show red dust swirling through the air when winds blow in one of the state’s farming regions.
Virgin and Qantas canceled dozens of flights in the state’s northwest on Friday.
A Qantas spokesman said Geraldton Airport was closed on Saturday and one flight was cancelled.
“We are monitoring the situation closely,” a spokesman said.
Emergency warnings continued on Saturday morning; People around Coral Bay, Overlander Roadhouse on the North West Coast Highway, Binnu and Mullewa have warned there is still a threat to their lives and homes.
“Seek shelter inside now. It’s too late to leave,” the warning read.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said the cyclone was downgraded to a former tropical cyclone around 5.45am on Saturday morning.
The weather system was located in the Gascoyne region, northeast of Dongara, and was weakening as it moved south-southeast at 41 km/h.
“It is expected to weaken further today and continue to move rapidly south-south-east over land. Impacts will extend into the Central West before spreading further inland and south across the South West Land Division,” a DFES spokesman said.
Several roads were closed in the state’s northwest and drivers were asked to avoid the area.
“Conditions remain challenging, but crews are working to complete repairs as quickly and safely as possible,” a spokesman said.
