A massive Category 5 cyclone is about to make landfall in Western Australia as terrified residents hunker down ahead of a night of destruction.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall around midnight or the early hours of Friday morning.
Cyclone Ilsa is tracking south along the Pilbara coast but is expected to turn south east and cross between Port Hedland and Wallal Downs, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
The ‘severe tropical cyclone’ will bring with it heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts, with ‘a very destructive core of Ilsa’ set to blast the communities near De Grey and Pardoo Roadhouse near the coast with 315km/h wind gusts.
It has been called the most destructive storm set to cross the state’s coast in more than a decade.
Once it hits land the tropical cyclone is expected to maintain intensity as it shifts towards the Northern Territory border crossing hundreds of kilometres.
Residents living near the coast in between Bidyadanga and De Grey coast areas have been ordered to seek shelter or evacuate their homes now.
Thunderstorms and a huge dumping of rain of between 150 to 300 mm is forecast to fall over where the cyclone crosses the coast, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Rainfall is expected to decrease as it tracks inland.
Cyclone Ilsa has upgraded into a Category 5 storm, and is set to lash the coast between Port Hedland and Bidyadanga in WA’s Pilbara region on Thursday night or Friday morning (pictured, a satellite loop shows the cyclone moving toward the Pilbara coast)
The ‘severe tropical cyclone’ will bring with it damaging winds and heavy rainfall and is the most destructive storm set to cross the coast in more than a decade (pictured, the latest track map image from the Bureau of Meteorology)
The Department of Fire and Emergency issued a red alert for the Pilbara and Kimberley coastline, WA Today said.
This means locals in the area including 15,000 people in Port Hedland need to stay indoors until the alert is lifted.
‘There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a cyclone is approaching the area,’ Emergency WA warned on Thursday morning.
‘You need to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.’
Residents in the areas affected have been told to go their nearest evacuation centre, keep an emergency kit with canned food, water and medication with them, and move all cars under cover.
Flood warnings have also been issued for those in West Kimberley, De Grey River, Sandy Desert, Warburton District Rivers, Salt Lakes District Rivers (North west of Laverton) and Western Desert Districts.
The cyclone is expected to cross late Thursday or early Friday morning as a Category 5 system
‘A severe impact will occur along the coast and adjacent inland parts to the east of Port Hedland and west of Bidyadanga, most likely between Pardoo Roadhouse and Wallal Downs, later tonight or early Friday morning,’ the BOM said.
‘During Friday, Ilsa is forecast to maintain tropical cyclone intensity as it tracks past Telfer and further inland across the Northern Interior district.
‘The system is expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength overnight Friday as it moves east into southern parts of the Northern Territory.’
Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter said residents were preparing for the impact of the cyclone, with evacuation centres set up in the town.
‘Everyone is on edge,’ Mr Carter told ABC TV on Thursday.
‘They understand that cyclones are what they are. They’re very, very unpredictable.’
Mr Carter urged people to watch out for household objects turning into flying debris.
‘All our residents are basically putting away their barbecues and outdoor furniture,’ he said.
He added loose objects travelling at high speeds had the potential to become ‘missiles in the air.’
Workers and tourists at Eighty Mile Beach caravan park and nearby Wallal Downs cattle station were being evacuated, along with non-critical workers at Newcrest’s Telfer mine and BHP’s sites across the region.
Extra emergency workers, essential supplies and aircraft have been sent to the area as authorities warn the North West Coastal Highway could close between Port Hedland and Broome due to flooding.
Port Hedland is being cleared of ships, including iron ore carriers.
It comes after supermarket shelves between Port Hedland and Broome were stripped bare of fresh produce, meat and dairy ahead of the cyclone.
Both Coles and Woolworths spokespeople reassured customers that stores in the region have been oversupplied with ‘ambient goods’, foods that stay at room temperature, so there will be plenty of supplies in case of an emergency.
Supermarkets in the Pilbara have been stripped of fresh food as residents prepare for Tropical Cyclone Ilsa to make landfall (pictured, a meat aisle in east WA)
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