Cyclone intensifies as it gets set to lash Exmouth on late Sunday evening

Exmouth is set to be hit hard by Tropical Cyclone Mitchell as the system is set to hit the popular tourist town on Sunday night.

Residents of the town and along the Pilbara coast have been warned to seek shelter as it’s too late to leave.

Destructive wind gusts of up to 155km/h, flash flooding, storm surges and abnormally high tides are forecast.

TC Mitchell is expected to make landfall at Exmouth at around 10pm on Sunday as a category three or two storm.

On Sunday morning it was west of Karratha and moving towards the coast.

It is currently a category three system and is expected to maintain its strength as it continues to move southwest towards the coast.

Destructive wind gusts up to 165km/h have already been recorded and some parts of the WA coast have received just under 100mm of rain in 24 hours.

It is moving towards the coast at about 16km/h.

An emergency warning has been issued for much of the Pilbara coast from south of Mardie to north of Coral Bay, including Exmouth, with authorities warning there is a risk to lives and homes.

Those in the area should shelter indoors now as it is too late to leave.

It’s expected to eventually weaken to a category one system as it moves southerly down the WA coast, and eventually inland, over the next several days.

“We expect to see heavy rainfall and storms, could lead to flash flooding, could lead to rivers flooding and will almost certainly lead to significant road closures, which may isolate communities,” BOM meteorologist Angus Hines said.

“The very strong wind gusts up and over 150 km/h could bring down entire trees, damage property and cause significant power outages in the northwestern corner of the country.

“And for residents on and near the coastline, watch out for extremely high tidal levels as the tropical cyclone can push seawater onto the shore.”

Referring to the coast between Karratha and Exmouth, Mr Hines said: “We could see more gusts over 150 km/h like we did around the islands here, potentially as high as 190 km/h.”

Heavy rainfall of between 100mm and 200mm is forecast for the Pilbara coast as Mitchell takes landfall.

“Widespread moderate to heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is likely over the west Pilbara coast, extending to the west Gascoyne region on Monday,” the BOM said.

“Local areas of intense rainfall leading to severe flash flooding may occur around the west Pilbara coast around Onslow later (Sunday).”