Cyclone may strengthen before landfall in western Australia

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) announced the upgraded alert level at 9.15pm (WST) on Saturday for communities between Port Hedland and Wallal in the Pilbara and Kimberley.

ABM’s bulletin at 1302 UTC (8:02 a.m. EST) said “The system will track steadily towards the south southeast and make landfall along the Pilbara coast during Saturday afternoon or evening”.

“People in the Port Hedland and South Hedland areas who are planing to relocate are urged to do so as a Red Alert is expected to be in place later today”, it said.

NASA satellites provided data as the tropical low pressure area known as System 92S has consolidated and intensified into Tropical Cyclone Stan, north of the Pilbara area of Western Australia.

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With favorable conditions until landfall, Stan should intensify to category 3 [severe tropical cyclone] prior to crossing the coast.

“There is a threat to lives and homes”.

People in the communities of South Hedland, Sandfire, Pardoo, Marble Bar, Wickham, Point Samson, Roebourne, Karratha, Whim Creek and Dampier need to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone, BoM warns. “Be aware that shops may now be closing”, it read.

“Ensure family members are wearing strong shoes and suitable clothing”.

A yellow alert remains in place for communities between Pardoo and Mardie, including Port Hedland.

In 2015, Western Australia didn’t experience its first tropical cyclone until March.

The bureau says gales with gusts to 100km/h are likely to develop in coastal parts between Bidyadanga and Port Hedland late on Saturday and early on Sunday, increasing to potentially destructive winds gusting to 150km/h during Sunday and extending inland to near Marble Bar and Nullagine.

“Residents between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland, are specifically warned of the potential of a risky storm tide as the cyclone centre crosses the coast during Saturday”.

Isolated falls of up to 100 millimetres are forecast for the region and flooding is expected in the De Grey River catchment.