Red alert for Western Australian town to stay indoors as Category 5 cyclone bears down

A powerful cyclone over parts of the Western Australian coast is predicted to turn into a massive Category 5 and wreak havoc within hours.

Cyclone Ilsa will bring damaging winds and heavy rainfall – with residents living between Bidyadanga and De Gray ordered to seek shelter now or evacuate their homes.

It has been ten years since the state has seen such a strong cyclone pass over the coast.

Cyclone Ilsa is classified as a Category 4 storm and will batter the coast between Port Hedland and Bidyadanga in the Pilbara region of the state on Thursday evening or Friday morning.

A Category 5 cyclone could bring wind gusts of up to 285 mph Thursday night into Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Thunderstorms and a massive downpour of between 200mm and 400mm are expected to fall over the western Kimberley and eastern Pilbara over the course of Thursday and Friday.

The Department of Fire and Emergency has 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, must stay indoors until the alert is lifted.

“There is a potential threat to lives and homes if a cyclone approaches the area,” Emergency WA warned Thursday morning.

“You have to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.”

Residents of the affected areas have been told to go to the nearest evacuation center, carry an emergency kit of canned food, water and medicine, and put all cars under cover.

Flood warnings have also been issued for people in West Kimberley, De Gray River, Sandy Desert, Warburton District Rivers, Salt Lakes District Rivers (northwest of Laverton), and Western Desert Districts.

“Severe impact will occur along the coast and adjacent inland areas east of Port Hedland and west of Bidyadanga, most likely between Pardoo Roadhouse and Wallal Downs later this evening or early Friday morning,” the BOM said.

During Friday, Ilsa is expected to maintain tropical cyclone intensity as it moves past Telfer and further inland through the Northern Interior district.

“The system is expected to weaken to tropical cyclone strength Friday night as it moves east into the southern parts of the Northern Territory.”

Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter said residents were preparing for the impact of the cyclone and evacuation centers had been set up across the city.

“Everyone is tense,” Carter told ABC TV on Thursday.

“They understand that cyclones are what they are. They are very unpredictable.’

Mr Carter urged people to watch out for household objects turning into flying debris.

“All of our residents are actually clearing out their barbecues and patio furniture,” he said.

He added that loose objects traveling at high speed have the potential to become “missiles in the sky.”

Workers and tourists at the Eighty Mile Beach caravan park and nearby Wallal Downs cattle station are being evacuated, along with non-critical workers at the Telfer mine in Newcrest and BHP’s sites across the region.

Additional aid workers, essential supplies and aircraft have been sent to the area as authorities warn the North West Coastal Highway between Port Hedland and Broome could close due to flooding.

Port Hedland is cleared of ships, including iron ore ships.

Cyclone Ilsa is the first Category Four system to hit the region in nearly a decade.

The last, dubbed Tropical Cyclone Christine, crossed the coast southwest of Port Hedland in December 2013.

It comes after supermarket shelves between Port Hedland and Broome were cleared of fresh produce, meat and dairy ahead of the cyclone.

Both Coles and Woolworths spokesmen assured customers that stores in the region have been overstocked with “ambient goods,” food that stays at room temperature so there will be plenty of supplies in case of an emergency.