Western Australia's Pilbara coast is being pummelled by gale force winds and torrential rain from Cyclone Veronica, with authorities warning the system poses the biggest risk to the region in a decade.
Key points:
- Cyclone Veronica is expected to cross the Pilbara coast mid-afternoon
- The system's size, combined with its slow movement, means its full force could be felt for 24 hours
- The storm surge combined with the high tide is likely to see much of Port Hedland flooded
More than 137 millimetres of rain has fallen in Port Hedland since yesterday afternoon, most of it coming down sideways as powerful winds tear through the town.
Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior forecaster Steph Bond said residents could expect significant falls to continue.
"We do expect heavy rainfall over the next 24 to 36 hours … we could see figures up around 200 to 400 millimetres and even isolated 500-millimetre totals," she said.
The system is expected to cross the coast this afternoon about 60 kilometres from Port Hedland.
However authorities are warning the full force of Cyclone Veronica could be felt from mid-morning — but is more likely in the afternoon — and could last up to 24 hours due to the system's size and how slowly it is moving.
Very destructive winds with gusts in excess of 165 kilometres per hour are expected near the cyclone's centre as the system approaches the coast.
The BOM has warned that the system poses the highest risk the region has seen from a cyclone in the past decade, particularly with a sustained dangerous storm surge.
That surge will coincide with high tides, a combination which is likely to see much of Port Hedland inundated by flood waters.
The eye of the cyclone is about 80 kilometres wide.
Legendre Island in the Dampier Archipelago has experienced the strongest wind gust of the system so far, with 158kph recorded just after 5:00am.
A red alert was issued on Saturday afternoon and is current for people in or near communities from Pardoo to Mardie, including Port Hedland, South Hedland, Whim Creek, Point, Samson, Wickham, Roebourne, Karratha and Dampier, but excluding Marble Bar.
People are being urged to stay indoors and stay away from doors and windows.
A blue alert is current for people in parts of the inland Pilbara, including Pannawonica.
Evacuation centres are operating at the JD Hardie Centre in South Hedland and the Karratha Leisureplex in Karratha.
In recent days volunteers have been helping to deliver enough food and water supplies to last several days.
The Karratha State Emergency Service offered a shuttle service to the evacuation centre for people who did not feel safe to drive last night.
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