Communities in WA's Pilbara are bracing for destructive winds and possible flooding amid the onslaught of Tropical Cyclone Olwyn.
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The Bureau of Meteorology advised that Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Olwyn had established 500km north of Karratha and 660km north north-east of Exmouth and was tracking south towards the west Pilbara coast at a rate of about 9km an hour. Winds of up to 100km/h are expected.
The cyclone is expected to hit the west Pilbara coastline by Friday morning.
Ports and anchorages in Dampier and Ashburton have been cleared of large vessels in preparation, as the Education Department announced that Exmouth District High School would close on Thursday and Friday.
The BoM has forecast winds of up to 100km/h between Karratha and Exmouth on Thursday, with the system travelling south towards Whim Creek during the day. Destructive gusts in excess of 125km/h could develop near the west Pilbara coast late evening Thursday.
Heavy rainfall is likely to develop over the western Pilbara and northern Gascoyne during Friday and Saturday and may lead to flooding.
A cyclone warning is in place for people near the coastal communities of Roebourne to Ningaloo, and there is a cyclone watch for coastal and inland communities from Port Hedland to Carnarvon.
A BoM spokesman said the tropical low was likely to continue to develop in the next 24 hours and could reach cyclone intensity on Thursday morning.
"It's likely to move in a south to south-west direction over the next 48 hours and could reach the west Pilbara coastline Friday morning," the spokesman said.
Gales with gusts to 100km/h are forecast to develop between Karratha and Exmouth late Thursday.
"Should the system take a more southerly track during Thursday, then gales may develop as far east as Whim Creek," the spokesman said.
Heavy rainfall is likely to develop over the western Pilbara and northern Gascoyne during Friday and Saturday and may lead to flooding.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services provided a reminder on cyclone precautions:
Review your family cyclone plan and make sure everyone knows what to do.
Prepare your home inside and out.
Organise an emergency kit with a portable battery operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit.
Know the community cyclone alert system and the steps that must be taken for each alert.
Keep up to date with the development of the cyclone through radio, television or the internet.
Community alerts will be issued by DFES if the cyclone comes closer.
There are four stages of alerts Blue, Yellow, Red and All Clear.
- BLUE ALERT means prepare for dangerous weather.
YELLOW ALERT means take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.
- RED ALERT means go to shelter immediately.
- ALL CLEAR means that wind and storm surge dangers have passed but you need to take care to avoid the dangers caused by damage.
A blue alert already applies to people in or near communities between Whim Creek and Ningaloo.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS:
For State Emergency Service (SES) assistance call 132 500.
In a life threatening situation call 000.
For weather information visit www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 210.
KEEP UP TO DATE:
Visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter @dfes_wa or listen to news bulletins.
For more information on how to prepare, a copy of Cyclone Smart is available at www.dfes.wa.gov.au
