Pastoralists in the projected path of a severe tropical cyclone fear their stations may be smashed, as widespread evacuations get underway.

April 11, 2023

Pastoralists fear they will be “smashed” by a tropical cyclone that’s expected to cross the Western Australian coast as a destructive category four system.

Tropical Cyclone Ilsa is currently a category one system located off the Kimberley coast, about 400km northwest of Broome.

It’s forecast to track south over the next two days and become a severe cyclone and cross the coast northeast of Port Hedland early on Friday.

Wallal Downs cattle station is in the projected path of the powerful weather system, which will be the first of its kind to make landfall in a decade.

Manager Belinda Lethbridge said her team is preparing as much as they can but they may not be able to save the property from destruction.

“This one is potentially going to be the worst we’ve seen for a number of years from what they’re reporting so it’s a lot more concerning than any others,” she told AAP on Tuesday.

“All the models are heading the right way – the wrong way for us meaning we’re probably going to get smashed pretty badly but the right way for a big catastrophe.”

Ms Lethbridge said her family had been managing the station for eight years and had escaped “fairly unscathed” from two cyclones in that time.

They also run nearby Warrawagine Station, which is also in the cyclone’s path.

At category-four strength, the storm is likely to damage buildings and vegetation, and lead to widespread power failures and flooding.

“We’ll be organised but you can only do as much as you can and you think you’re prepared as you can be, but you never know how bad it’s going to be,” Ms Lethbridge said.

The two stations’ dozen staff will be evacuated to Broome on Wednesday ahead of the storm.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said extra emergency workers, essential supplies and aircraft were being sent to the region.

“It’s been 10 years since we’ve had a category four cyclone impact the coast of WA and so many people up in the Pilbara and the Kimberley wouldn’t have experienced that sort of impact,” he told reporters.

“(There’s) an extra message there for the community to make sure this isn’t (treated as) just another cyclone.”

Mr Klemm said the department was contacting remote Aboriginal communities, pastoral stations, mining camps and tourism operators in the path of the cyclone.

People living in structures that aren’t built to withstand a category four weather event have been told to evacuate.

“People need to make sure they’re well prepared for winds in excess of 200km/ph, which is going to be significant,” he said.

Mr Klemm said the mining town of Telfer would be evacuated and the North West Coastal Highway between Port Hedland and Broome would likely close in the coming days due to flooding.

The Port Hedland port will be cleared of vessels, including iron ore carriers, on Wednesday.

Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Todd Smith said the cyclone would rapidly grow in strength and its impacts would be felt across a wide area between Broome and Port Hedland.

“It’s going to cause a lot of damage to trees, vegetation and any buildings and infrastructure that aren’t up to code, and caravans, cars are going to get blown around,” he said

Mr Smith warned abnormally high tides, large waves and flooding are possible and people should avoid coastal and low-lying areas.

He also said the weather system could reach hundreds of kilometres inland and towns in the Pilbara region also need to prepare.

Communities from Beagle Bay to Whim Creek, including Broome and Port Hedland, have been warned to prepare for damaging winds, heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides.