Tropical cyclone Christine is battering the Pilbara coast, forcing people to take shelter from the winds.
TROPICAL Cyclone Christine blasted the Pilbara coast with 170km/h winds and dumped more than 160mm of rain on the region last night, leaving thousands without power.
The cyclone crossed the coast about midnight, near Roebourne and Whim Creek, but the North West appears to have escaped without major destruction or loss of life.
No deaths or serious injuries have been reported.
This evening, the storm system had been downgraded to a category one and the red alert was lifted as it moved further inland and weakened.
Roebourne appears to have suffered the most damage - the WA Country Health Service has temporarily closed the Roebourne District Hospital after it suffered serious damage.
Twisted light poles show the raw power of Cyclone Christine's 170km/h winds which blasted Port Hedland and Karratha. Picture: Matt Tinney, Channel Nine News
DFES reports that several other buildings in the town, suffered damage and the town's power, water and communications infrastructure have also been hit.
More than 3000 homes remain without power, mainly in the Pilbara biggest town, Karratha.
The cyclone has been downgraded to a category one system as it continues to sweep inland.
The Bureau of Meteorology estimated at 8pm that the cyclone was 195km south-west of Newman and 65km west-north-west of three rivers, and moving south-east at 32km/h.
Cyclone Christine: A tree uprooted in Karratha by high winds. Picture: Jean Jones, Perth Weather Live
Residents awoke this morning telling of a furious night, with Cyclone Christine delivering fearful winds.
At the height of the storm the Bureau of Meteorology predicted the winds at the eye of the cyclone were gusting to 220km/h, but the powerful system spared a direct hit on any of the Pilbara communities.
The system has dumped enormous rainfall across a wide area but has been downgraded to a category two system this morning as it barrels inland towards remote mining communities.
The streets of Port Hedland look like canals after Cyclone Christine dumped more than 120mm on the town and smashed it with high winds. Picture: Matt Tinney, Channel Nine News
CLEAN UP BEGINS
With destruction caused by Cyclone Christine appearing to be largely limited to superficial damage to trees, fences and minor roof leaks, the big clean-up is underway.
Roebourne councillor Robin Vandenberg said many trees had fallen but there was no significant structural damage.
``The red alert has just gone off so we are getting out now to look at the damage, but looking at the area around us from the front yard, it's all just superficial damage,'' he told AAP.
Cyclone Christine: Port Hedland cops it, with a backyard palm tree snapped off by the high winds. Picture: Teeshia Roberts/Perth Weather Live
Mr Vandenberg said on a scale of one to 10, he would rate the cyclone as a seven in severity.
``It's not the worst I've experienced, but it's not at the low end either,'' he said.
Mr Vandenberg has lived in his house for 30 years and said the older buildings had stood the test of time against cyclones, while some of the newer buildings had suffered leaks.
``We have a big patio at the front and back and there were some roars because of the tin but nothing came off,'' he said.
Cyclone Christine left Karratha battered and bruised, but the Pilbara town survived the 170km/h onslaught. Picture: Jean Jones/Perth Weather Live
A red alert remains in place for people in or near Tom Price and Paraburdoo, where residents have been warned to stay indoors and away from doors and windows.
Relocation points have been set up at the Tom Price High School gym and Ashburton Hall in Paraburdoo.
A yellow alert is current for people in or near the inland community of Pannawonica.
A blue alert is current for people in or near the inland communities of Newman, Collier Ranges and Three Rivers.
Cyclone Christine: A radar image as the Category Three system crossed the coast near Roebourne. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology
The all-clear has been given for people between De Grey and Mardie, including Marble Bar, Port Hedland, South Hedland, Whim Creek, Roebourne, Wickham, Point Samson, Karratha and Dampier.
Those residents have been warned to take caution when heading outside due to fallen debris.
Damaging winds with gusts up to 120km/h are still possible near the cyclone centre and flood warnings have been issued, BoM said.
Australia's biggest iron ore miners - Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals Group - are assessing the impact of the cyclone on port, rail and mine operations, and ship loading is expected to remain suspended for some time.
Port Hedland was lashed by high winds but Tropical Cyclone Christine passed just south of the Pilbara port town. Picture: Matt Tinney, Nine News Perth
A Rio Tinto spokesman said the company's coastal and West Pilbara operations remained closed.
``We are still fully assessing the impact at this stage,'' he said.
State Emergency Services (SES) volunteers have had more than 40 calls related to roof damage, broken fences, fallen trees and flooding.
Horizon Power says 3200 homes are without electricity in Roebourne, Karratha and Point Samson.
Port Hedland had more than 100mm of rain to 6am today. Picture: Matt Tinney, Nine News Perth
More than 25 customers are also without power in the Port Hedland area, and there are damaged transmission lines in Karratha, Roebourne and Port Hedland.
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A satellite image showing category three Cyclone Christine bearing down on the Pilbara coast yesterday afternoon. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology
By early today the cyclone had begun to weaken and was downgraded to a Category Two storm, but is still packing destructive winds up to 130km/h at its centre.
To 9am, Roebourne had recorded 134mm, Port Hedland 123mm and Karratha 110mm.
DeGrey topped the state with 161mm in 24 hours to 9am.
By 11.30am Marble Bar had recorded nearly 130mm as the decaying cyclone dumps its load over inland mining regions.
Channel Nine News reporter Matt Tinney, who saw out the cyclone in Port Hedland, told 6PR radio this morning there were unconfirmed reports that a family had to bunker down in the bathroom of their house in Wickham, north of Roebourne, when their roof was ripped off by ferocious winds.
"It hasn't been confirmed yet because authorities can't go out there because of the red alert and the town being in lockdown," he said.
"So once they can get out there they will.
"Here in Port Hedland we're getting a first look at the damage - trees are down, the streets are flooded, the rain's coming in horizontally.
"I can only just see the port now, but about 10 minutes ago I saw the port was flooded as well."
More than 100 homes and businesses are without power in Port Hedland this morning.
Horizon Power advises Roebourne, Karratha and Point Sampson customers are also starting the day without electricity.
The supply will remain cut until the cyclone has cleared the area.
SES volunteers have had more than 56 calls related to roof damage, broken fences, fallen trees and flooding.
Volunteers will start work once it is safe to do so.
An Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Rapid Damage Assessment team is on location to help if required and incident management teams have been established to help people that may be impacted by the cyclone.
DFES is working closely with WA Police, Western Power, Main Roads, Local Government, Department of Health, Water Corporation, Department of Education, Department of Child Protection and Family Support and Telstra to minimise the impact on the community.
CYCLONE WARNING REMAINS
A Cyclone warning is current for inland parts of the Pilbara including Paraburdoo, Tom Price and Newman extending into central WA to include Three Rivers, Wiluna and Leinster.
The Cyclone warning for coastal parts of the Pilbara including Karratha has been cancelled.
DFES State Emergency Service (SES) advises of the following community alerts:
RED ALERT: People in or near Tom Price and Paraburdoo. You need to immediately head to shelter and stay indoors away from doors and windows.
YELLOW ALERT: People in inland areas surrounding and including Pannawonica. You need to take action and get ready to shelter from the cyclone.
BLUE ALERT: People in or near Newman and inland to the Collier Ranges and Three Rivers including Kumarina and east to Granite Peak and southwest to Wiluna, need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water.
People needing SES assistance can call 132 500.
In a life-threatening situation call 000. For more safety tips visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au
MINING OPERATIONS CLOSE DOWN
Australia's biggest iron ore miners have stopped loading ships and suspended rail operations as cyclone Christine heads towards the Pilbara coast.
A cyclone warning has been issued for coastal areas from Bidyadanga to Onslow, including Port Hedland, Karratha and Onslow, and extending inland to Paraburdoo.
BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group have suspended their port operations in the region.
BHP said ``tie-down'' activities at Port Hedland, Australia's largest iron ore export port, have been completed.
``Extreme weather preparations continue across our mining operations in line with alerts issued by Department of Fire and Emergency Services,'' BHP said in a statement.
``Any production impacts will be in our next operational report.''
The highest priority is to ensure the safety of employees, BHP said.
Rio Tinto said ship loading had now stopped, but mine and rail operations continue to operate as normal.
Fortescue Metals Group said its Port Hedland operations and rail operations had been secured, in line with the company's cyclone readiness procedures.
``Conditions are being closely monitored and plans will be updated accordingly,'' the company said.
KARIJINI CLOSED
The Department of Parks and Wildlife advises that Karijini National Park in the Shire of Ashburton will be closed until further notice from 12pm today due to Cyclone Christine.
Gales, destructive winds and heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Christine are expected in the region today and tomorrow.
PILBARA HEALTH SERVICES
The WA Country Health Service Pilbara wishes to advise residents of Karratha, Port Hedland and surrounding districts of health service access in the lead up to and during Cyclone Christine.
During Yellow Alert, people in Karratha requiring urgent medical care can access Nickol Bay Hospital however, it is recommended that only emergency patients or those requiring urgent care come to the hospital during this time.
As is usual practice in the lead up to a cyclone, an emergency medical team will be managing patients and where possible, transferring to other hospitals that are not in the predicted path of the cyclone.
Upon Red Alert status, an Emergency Medical Response Team will be located in the Karratha Leisureplex (Cyclone Evacuation Centre) immediately adjacent to Nickol Bay Hospital. This is where more people and services are expected to locate to ensure safe refuge.
Please do not go to Nickol Bay Hospital during a Red Alert. Medical staff will only be available at the Karratha Leisureplex.
Port Hedland residents are advised that they can seek urgent medical attention at the Hedland Health Campus.
Residents can keep up to date with Tropical Cyclone forecasts by checking the BoM website.
