Flood and severe weather warnings have been issued as a tropical low dumps torrential rain across Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

December 11, 2020

People in Western Australia’s Pilbara have been urged to prepare for flooding as a tropical low dumps heavy rain across the region.

The weather system crossed the coast on Friday with the torrential rain expected to continue into Saturday.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall has been issued for people in inland Pilbara towns and communities.

A major flood warning has also been issued for people in the De Grey River catchment.

Towns in the area including Marble Bar, Newman, Jigalong, Nullagine, Parnngurr, Shay Gap and Telfer have been urged to prepare.

People in the Ashburton River catchment including Tom Price and Paraburdoo were also warned minor flooding is expected.

A flood warning has also been issued for the Pilbara’s coastal rivers and Goldfields-Midlands districts.

The weather system has already dumped 159 millimetres on Carraba and more than 100mm on a number of other locations including Marble Bar and Pincunah.

It crossed the coast between Port Hedland and Whim Creek about 11am with wind gusts up to 91km/h before moving in a southeasterly direction towards Marble Bar.

“Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding is possible over the inland Pilbara and will extend into western parts of the interior districts during the evening,” a Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said.

“Some roads may become impassable and some communities may be isolated.”

Damaging winds with gusts up to 100 km/h are likely.

The bureau said rainfall totals of up 250mm were possible on Saturday.

“This weather is not unusual for this time of year but could damage homes and make travel dangerous,” the agency said.