Emergency warnings along north-west WA coast as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell approaches as category 3 storm | Western Australia
Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell is expected to maintain category 3 intensity as it moves along the Pilbara coast before making landfall.
Located west of Karratha, the cyclone was about 30km offshore, with near-centre winds of 120km/h and wind speeds as high as 165km/h on Sunday morning, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest track map.
“The expectation is that it will maintain category 3 intensity today as it moves south-west parallel to the Pilbara coast,” senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said. However, as the hurricane moves southwest over the water, it may intensify or even slow down slightly.
The cyclone was expected to reach between Exmouth and Onslow late Sunday evening or early Monday morning.
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A warning area has been declared extending from Karratha to Cape Cuvier, just north of Carnarvon. These areas were the most likely to see storm force or damaging winds, although very destructive winds of up to 120 mph could develop as Mitchell’s core approached the coast.
Emergency WA has issued tornado emergency warnings stretching from Whim Creek to Onslow, urging residents to shelter indoors.
At 19:00 on Saturday, winds of 169 km/h were recorded on Legendre Island, and on Sunday morning, winds of 148 km/h were recorded on Barrow Island.
“The islands are mostly affected at the moment, but places like Port Hedland and Karratha are still experiencing 90-100km/h winds along the coastline,” Bradbury said.
Widespread moderate to heavy rain was expected along with the possibility of flash flooding along the West Pilbara coast with abnormally high tides. These dangers will extend to the Gascoyne region on Monday.
Karratha had recorded 67mm of rain since midnight.
“The rain is coming, our rivers are starting to rise, and we’re probably going to see impacts on roads, access roads and communities in those areas as well,” Bradbury said.
Moisture from the tropics, including tropical Cyclone Mitchell, was contributing to the risk of severe storms in the central and southeastern states, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and inland South Australia.
Bradbury said this is important because storms can bring rain to some very dry parts of the country.
On average, Australia experienced About 10 tropical cyclones per season3 to 4 people disembark. Mitchell followed tropical cyclones Fina, Hayley, Koji and Luana as they crossed the coast this season.
Fewer tropical cyclones were expected with a warming climate, but the rate of severe events may increase. national climate risk assessment.
