WA Weather: Tropical cyclone Mitchell set smash Pilbara as severe category three

Tropical cyclone Mitchell was gathering force off the Pilbara coast late Saturday and is forecast to reach severe category three by the time it makes landfall just north of Karratha.

Though it was still over the ocean yesterday, it brought wild weather to Pilbara communities and was predicted to intensify further.

While many locals spent the day sandbagging their properties and buying last-minute essentials, others were taking the cyclone in their stride.

Eliza Hudson from Last Chance Tavern in Port Hedland said locals weren’t overly worried.

“Its been pretty gnarly this morning weather wise ... but the locals seem really used to it. They’re saying they hope the rain clears the rubbish from the street,” she said.

“We’ve had to bring stuff (inside) from the weather, but people are still driving through the bottle shop to stock up.”

Emergency WA issued a “shelter indoors now” warning to residents from Whim Creek to Mardie, including Karratha, Barrow Island and Montebello Islands.

“Onslow and surrounds may be upgraded to an emergency warning overnight.”

Several evacuation centres were opened.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the cyclone was expected to swing more to the south today.

“The current track shows it reaching the coast somewhere near Onslow out to the west of the Pilbara,” he said.

“As it moves onto the country that will bring further rainfall and some very strong winds to the north-west of WA.

“These areas could all see damaging to destructive wind gusts as well as heavy rain and thunderstorms, which may lead to flash flooding or cause river levels to rise, particularly late today and into Sunday.”

The system is forecast to weaken by Monday, but is tipped to still bring heavy rainfall throughout the week.

Mr Hines urged locals to prepare by getting some extra food and water in case there are problems with water or power.

“But once it starts to hit and that nasty weather sets in ... you really want to be battening down the hatches,” he said.

Category two and three cyclones differ primarily in intensity and destructive capacity, with category three bringing strong enough winds to push over trees.

Saturday was the second day of wild weather on the coast.

On Friday at 2am the tropical low was located about 50 kilometres north-east of Broome, already delivering heavy rain across parts of the Kimberley.

Pilbara Ports closed the ports of Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier, Port Hedland and Varanus Island early Saturday.

A spokesperson said all berths and anchorages had been cleared.