Cyclone Rusty hovers off the Broome-Pilbara coast as it gathers strength. Source: PerthNow
BIG ONE: Cyclone Rusty is now a Category two storm, but has the potential to develop into a destructive Category four cyclone. Source: PerthNow
Catch up with Channel 9's Sally Ayhan for local weather and a sneak peek into what to expect over the next 24 hours.
Cyclone Rusty off the Broome-Pilbara coast. Source: PerthNow
FORECASTERS say Tropical Cyclone Rusty will cause havoc in northern Western Australia in the next 24 hours, warning it could bring major flooding, huge winds and a potentially deadly coastal tide.
The slow-moving cyclone, which is currently a category two, was about 250km north of Port Hedland and 345km west of Broome at 5pm, moving south at 6km/h and building.
The Bureau of Meteorology say the storm front could be as intense as a category four as it crosses the coastline later this week, which could bring wind gusts as high as 230km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Rusty is moving slowly towards the coast. It has recently moved to the south southeast but it is likely to take a southerly track overnight.
Gales are expected on the coast between Wallal and Whim Creek overnight. During Tuesday afternoon gales could extend west to Karratha and begin to extend inland towards Marble Bar and Millstream.
Further intensification is likely as the tropical cyclone approaches the coast.
There is a high risk that Rusty will cross the coast as a severe tropical cyclone. However, the slow motion of the tropical cyclone means that the crossing time and location is uncertain.
Rusty is a large tropical cyclone and its slow movement is likely to result in rainfall that is heavier than that associated with a typical tropical cyclone.
Very heavy rainfall is expected in near coastal parts of the eastern Pilbara and western Kimberley over the next few days.
During Tuesday and Wednesday widespread very heavy rainfall is likely to lead to major flooding in the De Grey catchment. Significant flooding is also likely in the Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams.
Rusty's intensity, size and slow movement is also likely to lead to a very dangerous storm tide as the cyclone centre nears the coast.
Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with damaging waves and very dangerous coastal inundation.
Channel 9's Sally Ayhan on what Perth can expect from Cyclone Rusty
Widespread heavy rainfall is likely to lead to major flooding in the nearby De Grey catchment area.
Significant flooding is also predicted in the Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams.
More than 830mm of rain has been dumped on the Cocos Islands in the past three days - eclipsing the amount that fell in metropolitan Perth in 2012 by more than 200mm.
Bureau senior forecaster Neil Bennett said Rusty's intensity, size and slow movement was also likely to lead to a dangerous storm tide, including damaging waves.
Port Hedland port evacuated, closed
Mining giant Rio Tinto said it had prepared for the storm by closing the Port Walcott port at Cape Lambert and was finishing up ship-loading at its Dampier ports.
The Port Headland Port Authority said it had evacuated the port on Sunday night and would stay closed.
Virgin cancelled flights from Perth to Broome today, and local businesses reported people were dashing to buy water and tinned food as the storm approached.
Cocos Island deluge - 830mm in three days
The massive tropical cyclone has also dumped huge rainfall on parts of the Kimberley and Cocos Island, which has received more than 800mm of rain in three days -- including 416mm in the past 24 hours.
Cocos Islands has received 830mm of rain in three days, thanks to the combination of Cyclone Rusty and a monsoonal trough.
"The monsoon trough lies in the vicinity of the Cocos Islands with a tropical low about 170km to the southeast.
Strong to gale force winds are are likely through the outlook period. The low may develop into a tropical cyclone on Monday or Tuesday, by which time the system centre will be moving away from the Cocos Islands,'' the Bureau says.
"The weather associated with the low and combined with the monsoon trough has led to heavy rainfall on the islands.
"The heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activity is expected to continue on Monday.
At 11.45am today Cyclone Rusty was 305km north of Port Hedland and 410km north-northeast of Karratha and was virtually stationary, gathering strength over the warm Kimberley ocean.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns: "Tropical Cyclone Rusty is moving slowly towards the coast. Overnight it moved
very slowly to the east southeast but it is likely to resume a more southward track by this evening.
"Gales are expected to develop on the coast between Wallal and Whim Creek during the early afternoon, possibly extending north towards Broome this evening. On Tuesday gales could extend as far west as Mardie and inland towards Marble Bar and Millstream.
"Further intensification is likely as the cyclone approaches the coast on Monday and Tuesday and there is a high risk that Rusty will cross the coast a severe tropical cyclone.
However, the slow motion of the cyclone means that the crossing time and location is uncertain.
"Rusty is a large tropical cyclone and its slow movement is likely to result in higher than usual rainfall in the Pilbara and western Kimberley. Very heavy rainfall is expected in near coastal parts of the eastern Pilbara and western Kimberley on Monday.
"During Tuesday and Wednesday widespread very heavy rainfall is likely to lead to major flooding in the De Grey catchment.
"Significant flooding in the Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams is also likely.
"Rusty's intensity, size and slow movement is also likely to lead to a very dangerous storm tide as the cyclone centre nears the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with damaging waves and very danbgerous coastal inundation.
Cyclone Rusty has already brought massive rainfalls to parts of the Kimberley, with Country Downs station receiving 358mm in the past 48 hours, Kimbolton 242mm, Kilton Station and Cygnet Bay 209mm and Derby 181mm.
In the 24 hours to 9am today Lombadina, north-east of Broome has had 73mm and Broome recorded 47mm.
Flood warnings are in place for the De Grey River catchment and West Kimberley, including Cape Leveque.
DFES community alerts:
YELLOW ALERT: for people in or near the coastal communities of Cape Leveque to Wallal, and Whim Creek to Mardie, and extending to adjacent inland communities. This includes people in Broome, Bidyadanga, Karratha, Marble Bar and Millstream.
BLUE ALERT for people in or near the coastal communities of Cape Leveque to Wallal, and Whim Creek to Mardie, and extending to adjacent inland communities. This includes people in Broome, Bidyadanga, Karratha, Marble Bar and Millstream.
School closures:
The Department of Education advises the following public schools are closed until further notice:
• Hedland Senior High School
• Port Hedland Primary School
• Port Hedland School of the Air
• Cassia Primary School
• Cassia Education Support Centre
• Baler Primary School
• South Hedland Primary School
• Pilbara Behaviour Centre.
Three other schools have also been closed until further notice due to the risk of flooding. These schools are:
• Yandeyarra Remote Community School (in the Shire of Port Hedland)
• Marble Bar Primary School (in the Shire of East Pilbara)
• Nullagine Primary School (in the Shire of East Pilbara).
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