Emergency services prepare for cyclone and flooding

Urban search and rescue specialists are among the dozens of emergency service personnel deployed to Western Australia's northwest as authorities prepare communities for the likely impact of a tropical cyclone.

The massive weather system is forecast to make landfall as a category two cyclone near Coral Bay on Saturday, but the Bureau of Meteorology has warned it could strengthen into a severe category three storm.

A blue alert has been issued from Roebourne south to the Ningaloo area, including the mining town of Karratha, with residents urged to get ready for severe weather and potential flooding.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said rapid response teams and equipment were on the way to Carnarvon, Exmouth, Karratha and Geraldton.

"We are significantly bolstering our resources in the northwest to ensure we're keeping the community safe," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"Our efforts are focused on communities close to where the cyclone is expected to cross, including Aboriginal communities, mine sites and tourism operators."

The commissioner said the North West Coastal Highway was likely to close at multiple locations due to flooding and some communities could be isolated.

"People in the community should reconsider travel to the area and people travelling in caravans must leave the area prior to a cyclone approaching for your own safety," he said. 

"Conditions on the coast will also be very dangerous over the coming days."

A bureau map issued on Wednesday shows the likely path of the weather system, which is expected to gather strength and reform into a cyclone as it tracks southwest down the WA coast from the Kimberley before making landfall in the southern Pilbara or Gascoyne regions.

Meteorologist James Ashley said communities in northwest WA were likely to be hit by severe weather as the system moved south.

"A severe category three cyclone is not out of the question, as is a weaker system, but at the moment we're expecting this system to be a category two," he said.

"It's likely to bring a period of dangerous winds and heavy rainfall to the area it moves over land so we have flood watches in place for the western part of the Pilbara and the Gascoyne region, as well as a tropical cyclone watch."

Lincoln crossed the Northern Territory coast late last week as a category one tropical cyclone from the Gulf of Carpentaria before moving inland across the Top End and into WA as a storm.

It dumped heavy rain across a wide area triggering flood watches and warnings in northwest Queensland, the NT and northern WA before moving offshore again on Wednesday.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store