National

Residents brace, ports close as damaging cyclone builds

Feb 8, 2026

Mitchell strengthens as it nears the WA coast. — Many on the WA coast have been told to seek immediate shelter as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell nears. -AAP Image

Coastal communities are bracing for destructive winds and life-threatening floods as a category three cyclone threatens to make landfall.

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Tropical Cyclone Mitchell is continuing to stalk Western Australia's Pilbara coast, with landfall between Onslow and Exmouth forecast for late Sunday or early Monday.

The system is at category three strength near the mining town of Karratha, after intensifying over warm ocean waters on Sunday morning.

Karratha recorded wind gusts of up to 95km/h overnight, with locals and authorities yet to take stock of losses.

Residents from Whim Creek to Onslow have been told it is too late to leave and they must seek shelter indoors immediately, with Mitchell presenting a threat to lives and homes.

Major ports along the Pilbara coastline were forced to close on Saturday as the weather system passed north of Port Hedland.

Pilbara Ports will deliver an update once the terminals, including the world's largest iron-ore export hub are safe to reopen.

Wind gusts of up to 195km/h may hit towns along the coast, while damaging gales are expected to spread inland across the western Pilbara from Sunday night.

Mitchell is expected to make landfall between Onslow and Exmouth late Sunday or early Monday, before taking a more southerly track over land on Monday, Emergency WA warned.

The wind gusts in some areas may reach up to 205 km/h on Sunday morning if Mitchell moves closer than forecast, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

"Damaging to destructive winds are expected to ramp up in the next 24 hours," bureau forecaster Angus Hines said on Saturday.

"Those winds are strong enough to bring down big branches or entire trees, damage property, and lead to power outages."

An evacuation centre has been set up at Karratha Leisureplex, and a second evacuation centre is being opened further south at the Onslow Multi Purpose Centre.

Authorities warn the central and west Pilbara coast faces the risk of flash flooding throughout the weekend, with the west Gascoyne region likely also affected by Monday.

Abnormally high tides will also present a serious flood risk for the Karratha region in the early hours of Sunday and towards Onslow Sunday afternoon, the bureau says.