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Residents along the North West Cape of Western Australia are bracing themselves as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell, now downgraded, lashes the coastline with its formidable force.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the cyclone is unleashing powerful winds reaching up to 170 km/h, accompanied by heavy rainfall and the threat of flash flooding.
Currently positioned near the North West Cape, the cyclone is affecting the Exmouth region and is predicted to continue its path along the Ningaloo and Gascoyne coasts throughout Monday.
The small resort town of Exmouth, which boasts a population of fewer than 3,000 residents, is directly in the storm’s path and is expected to bear the brunt of its destructive power.
“I haven’t seen the town looking so clean and tidy for as long as I can remember,” remarked Matthew Niikkula, president of Exmouth Shire, to the Australian Associated Press (AAP).
He said the town has not experienced a cyclone of this strength in a decade, adding conditions could be “extremely frightening”.
“It’s just that darkness and the screaming 200km/h winds that sound like banshees running around outside,” he said.
Cyclone downgraded to category two
The cyclone’s destruction was rated a severe category three system before weakening to a category two on Sunday.
“We have seen a reasonable amount of rainfall — it’s been the wind that has been most powerful and most impressive so far, particularly again, over those offshore islands,” senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
A Watch and Act was in place south of Onslow to Coral Bay, including Exmouth and Ningaloo.
Cyclone Mitchell is expected to track southeast, impacting western Gascoyne, Carnarvon, Denham and Gascoyne Junction on Monday.
“We expect to see heavy rainfall and storms could lead to flash flooding, could lead to rivers flooding, and will almost certainly lead to significant road closures, which may isolate communities,” Mr Hines said.
“The very strong wind gusts up to over 150 kilometres an hour could bring down entire trees, damage property and cause significant power outages in the northwestern corner of the country.”
The system is expected to weaken as it moves inland, becoming a category one cyclone late on Monday.
“This weather system is going to be with us for a number of days as it’s going to slide southwards through the interior of Western Australia as a weakening, decaying weather system between Monday and Wednesday,” Mr Hines said.
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