Communities in the path of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa are bracing for impact as the severe storm system begins to wreak havoc inland, bringing with it destructive winds and flooding. After making landfall early on Friday between De Grey and Pardoo as a category 5 system, Ilsa has already begun to downshift, now categorized as a category 1 cyclone as it rapidly tracks through the eastern Pilbara with wind gusts of up to 170km/h.
Residents in the affected areas are being urged to seek shelter immediately, with authorities issuing a red alert for Wallal Downs on the coast and inland to Telfer, Punmu, and Parnngurr. “I wanted to just really emphasize for those communities, even though the system has crossed the coast, please remain vigilant,” said Todd Smith, a meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology. “We are expecting damaging to destructive winds today and into this evening as the system continues to track towards the east.”
While the cyclone largely spared coastal communities around Port Hedland, it still poses a significant threat as it moves inland. The storm made headlines earlier on Friday when it was classified as a category 5, with sustained winds of up to 283km/h – the strongest winds ever recorded on the mainland by the Bureau of Meteorology. The eye of the cyclone passed close to the Pardoo Roadhouse, 150km east of Port Hedland, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Kelly Anne Martinez, the owner of the Pardoo Roadhouse, said the damage would cost $4m and expressed concern for the well-being of her staff and the community that relies on the roadhouse. “Pardoo Roadhouse is a family-run business and we are a very close-knit team,” she said. “This is not just where we work, this is our home and a community for nearby Fifo workers, truckies, and of course, travelers.”
Cyclone IlsaWA Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm echoed Martinez’s sentiment, describing the damage at Pardoo as significant but emphasizing the need to wait for a full assessment before outlining a plan for the clean-up and rebuilding process.
Residents of Port Hedland, who shielded overnight, emerged to find their town relatively unscathed. Mayor Peter Carter described the experience as eerie and strange, likening it to Mother Nature’s power. “It had an eerie feel, really strange – Mother Nature does interesting things,” he said. “We dodged a major bullet last night.”
The storm is expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength on Friday night as it moves into southern parts of the Northern Territory, but forecasters have warned communities including Alice Springs, Yulara, and Ti Tree to remain alert for flash flooding and gale-force winds.
As the storm clears by late Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged those affected to “take care of yourselves, look after each other, and listen out for updates from local authorities.”