Summary
Headline:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa is impacting the coast between Bidyadanga and Whim Creek, with the very destructive winds expected to pass to the east of Port Hedland between De Grey and Pardoo Roadhouse.
Areas affected:
Warning zone: Bidyadanga to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland but not including Bidyadanga or Whim Creek, and extending inland to near Kiwirrkurra, including Kunawarritji, Nullagine, Marble Bar, Parnngurr and Telfer. .
Watch zone: None.
Cancelled zones: None.
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa at 11:00 pm AWST:
Intensity: category 5, sustained winds near the centre of 215 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 295 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 20 kilometres of 19.8 degrees South, 119.4 degrees East , 100 kilometres northeast of Port Hedland and 55 kilometres west northwest of Pardoo Roadhouse .
Movement: southeast at 18 kilometres per hour .
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa, category 5, is on the coast between De Grey and Pardoo Roadhouse. Ilsa will cross the coast during the next few hours.
Observations at Bedout Island, offshore of the east Pilbara coast, recorded severe tropical cyclone winds of 218 km/h with gusts of 288 km/h.
A very destructive wind impact is occuring along the coast and adjacent inland parts between De Grey and Pardoo Roadhouse.
During Friday, Ilsa is forecast to maintain tropical cyclone intensity as it tracks past Telfer and further inland across the Northern Interior district and the northern parts of the Southern Interior district. Ilsa is then expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength overnight Friday as it moves into southern parts of the Northern Territory.
Track and intensity
All times in WST – subtract 8 hours to convert to UTC.