Residents in Western Australia’s Gascoyne region are hunkering down as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell skirts the coast near Carnarvon, while others are welcoming the much-needed rainfall the system is bringing. The cyclone, currently a category one, has been tracking south along the Pilbara coastline since Friday.
The storm is expected to weaken as it makes landfall, but residents are bracing for strong winds and potential flooding.
- Tropical Cyclone Mitchell is currently a category one system tracking south along the Western Australian coast.
- The Shark Bay area is expected to experience the worst conditions over the next six hours.
- Abnormally high tides and flash flooding are possible in parts of the Gascoyne, Central West, and Central Wheatbelt.
- While some areas are preparing for impact, others are benefiting from the rainfall, particularly drought-affected pastoral stations.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) expects Tropical Cyclone Mitchell to make landfall near Shark Bay overnight or early Tuesday morning. Forecaster Caroline Crowe said rain and winds have already begun to pick up across the World Heritage-listed area, approximately 800 kilometers north of Perth.
What’s the difference between a tropical cyclone and a tropical low? Tropical lows are less intense than cyclones, but can still cause significant damage through heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Crowe explained that the system will dissipate into a tropical low once it crosses the coast. However, damaging wind gusts of up to 100km/h are still possible. BoM has also warned of abnormally high tides in the southern parts of Shark Bay and the potential for flash flooding in surrounding areas.
“It will bring potentially heavy rainfall that could lead to some flash flooding to parts of the Gascoyne, Central West and in the Central Wheatbelt on Tuesday,” Crowe said. Affected areas may include Geraldton, Kalbarri, Merredin, Moora, Mount Magnet, and Dalwallinu.
Tropical Cyclone Mitchell is expected to cross the coast on Monday night or early Tuesday morning. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)
An evacuation centre remains open at the Shark Bay Recreation Centre, while the Carnarvon PCYC is now closed. Several schools in Shark Bay will be closed to all staff and students on Tuesday, though a number of schools in the Pilbara will reopen.
Wild Weather in Carnarvon
Carnarvon resident Rachel Hagan reported that the weather had been relatively calm until heavy rain and wind began in the early afternoon. “Things have started to pick up now — quite a few bangs outside which have made me jump but probably nothing like we’re about to experience,” she said.
Gascoyne residents have prepared for heaving rain and wind from TC Mitchell. (ABC News: Macey Turner)
Hagan noted that the town appeared relatively prepared for the category one system. “There was still water left [in stores], but a lot of water was gone,” she said. “The thing that surprised me most is just how easygoing everyone seems to be about it.”
Carnarvon is experiencing strong winds as TC Mitchell gets closer to the Gascoyne town. (ABC Pilbara: Rachel Hagan)
Local produce growers are anticipating the rainfall, especially after a recent heatwave that impacted crops. “Our growers have been hit by a heatwave … so the rain will be welcomed but hopefully the wind doesn’t do too much damage,” Hagan added.
Welcome Rainfall for Pastoralists
In the West Pilbara, Yalleen Station recorded 95 millimeters of rain from the cyclone. Pastoralist Michael Percy said the downpour broke a three-year dry spell. “These sort of systems are what we all look out for, because they bring that sort of general rain that’s over the wide area, which is what we really need,” he said. “We’ve had some really useful rain, which we were starting to worry we weren’t going to get.”
Dampier in WA’s north saw significant rainfall after the cyclone. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)
Percy explained that the rain would be a “huge difference” for the station, entirely changing their outlook. However, he acknowledged that not everyone would benefit from the rainfall.
Liam Forrester at Winning Station, about 220 kilometers north of Carnarvon, had been forecast to receive up to 80mm of rain starting around 4 a.m. Monday. However, the station only recorded between 15 and 20mm. “We’re extremely grateful … but it is hard not to be a little bit disappointed with how dry it is,” he said. “We were hoping to break the drought here, but we look forward to the next one.”
Cyclone Passes Exmouth and Onslow
Tropical Cyclone Mitchell reached category three strength on Saturday before weakening to a category two system on Sunday and then to a category one on Monday.
Roads were closed in Onlsow following TC Mitchell. (ABC News: Mietta Adams)
Karratha experienced wind gusts of 100km/h as the cyclone passed along the Pilbara coastline. Some residents in Exmouth have been without power since Sunday night.
