Ex-cyclone brings heavy rain for WA

A yellow alert has been issued for coastal communities between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and South Hedland, with people urged to get ready to shelter. “The safety of our teams is the highest priority”, the company said.

By early Sunday, Stan will be close to Newman and will move in southeasterly direction across Western Australia through the weekend.

But by the time it had hit landfall on Sunday morning it had already weakened to a category two.

“They’re very resilient people out there”, he told AAP.

However, potential for heavy rain still remains, with widespread rainfall between 50mm and 100mm expected to fall near the cyclone. Area in the warning zone range from Bidyadanga to Mardie and the adjacent inland parts to Marble Bar and Pannawonica.

“It is expected to reach category 3 intensity tonight prior to landfall and cross the coast between Port Hedland east to Wallal”.

“We’re expecting it to cross near Port Hedland, but it could pass anywhere between Karratha and Pardoo. You are in danger and need to act immediately”, the DFES warning says.

Gales, with wind gusts of up to 90km/h, are still occurring to the east of the cyclone through the eastern Pilbara, with the Interior district bracing for similar conditions as Stan accelerates into the southeast on Sunday afternoon.

They have warned of potentially “destructive winds” with gusts to 150km/h near the cyclone centre as it moves south-east into the Pilbara.

BHP released a statement yesterday highlighting the importance of safety as the cyclone approached, while normal operations continue.

Residents between Port Hedland and Bidyadanga, not including Port Hedland, have been warned of a possible risky storm tide bringing high waves and flooding as Stan’s centre crosses the coast during Sunday morning.

Isolated falls of up to 100 millimetres are forecast for the region and flooding is expected in the De Grey River catchment.

Tropical cyclone Stan has made landfall in Western Australia.