PILBARA Ports Authority is preparing to clear ships out of Port Hedland as Tropical Cyclone Ilsa approaches the Western Australian coast.
PPA issued an alert on Tuesday (11 April) after the Bureau of Meteorology advised the cyclone was moving southwest from its position north of Broome.
“The system is expected to intensify and reach tropical cyclone strength on Tuesday, with a possibility of reaching category 4 before making a coastal crossing between Port Hedland and Broome on Thursday or Friday,” PPA wrote in its notice.
“Pilbara Ports Authority will start clearing vessels from the Port of Port Hedland inner harbour from 2:00am tomorrow, on high tide.
“All port anchorages within the Port of Port Hedland boundary have been cleared.”
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a notice at around 1500 Western Standard Time confirming the weather system had developed from a tropical low into a tropical cyclone and would continue to move southwest, parallel to the Kimberley coast.
“The system is expected to track to the south and then southeast during Thursday and a severe impact is likely along the coast and adjacent inland parts between Port Hedland and Broome during late Thursday or early Friday,” it said.
The notice warned of destructive winds with gusts of up to 90 kilometres an hour developing near Broome and Port Hedland throughout Thursday morning. Destructive winds of up to 140 kilometres an hour could develop in other areas.
It also advised of squally thunderstorms over the western Kimberley during Tuesday and Wednesday and abnormally high tides about the coast between Broome and Port Hedland during Wednesday and Thursday.
“In some locations the tide may be close to the highest astronomical tide of the year.”
PPA also advised that recreational vessel owners are to safely secure their vessels for cyclonic conditions.
