As Cyclone Ilsa made landfall on the coast of north-west Western Australia, it set a new sustained wind speed record of 218km/h, surpassing the previous record held by Cyclone George in 2007. Ilsa was downgraded to category 4 just after reaching the coast, near Pardoo Roadhouse, approximately 140km east of Port Hedland. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that the cyclone had set a new preliminary Australian, 10-minute sustained wind speed record at Bedout Island, just off the coast.
Residents in the affected areas were urged to seek shelter immediately as the storm, now with gusts of up to 285km/h, made its approach. Communities from Bidyadanga to Port Hedland and inland to Marble Bar were advised to find shelter promptly. Peter Carter, Port Hedland mayor, warned that it was “too late to leave” and that people should stay in the strongest, safest part of their buildings.
Todd Smith, a Bureau of Meteorology spokesman, described category 5 cyclones as “incredibly dangerous”, capable of causing extensive damage to houses that are not built to code. However, he noted that the system was expected to cross into a relatively unpopulated part of the coast.
As the cyclone approached, Port Hedland residents stockpiled supplies and prepared their homes for the worst. Mayor Carter described an eerie quiet had fallen over the town as residents prepared for impact, with many people getting increasingly anxious as the storm drew closer. Carter urged people to watch out for loose objects turning into flying debris, likening them to “missiles in the air”.
Cyclone IlsaEvacuation centres had been set up in South Hedland, Newman, Marble Bar, and Nullagine, as communities from Bidyadanga to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and inland to Marble Bar, Nullagine, and Telfer, were instructed to move their vehicles under cover and keep their emergency kits handy.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecast abnormally high tides, destructive winds, and up to 300mm of rain, with workers and tourists at Eighty Mile Beach caravan park and nearby Wallal Downs cattle station evacuated, along with non-critical workers at Newcrest’s Telfer mine and BHP’s sites across the region. Extra emergency workers, essential supplies, and aircraft were sent to the area to assist with the response.
The fire and emergency services commissioner, Darren Klemm, stated that the weather system would have a significant impact on communities in the warning area, emphasizing the importance of preparation and safety measures taken. As Ilsa continued to track inland to Telfer and move east, it was expected to maintain tropical cyclone intensity into Friday, bringing destruction and chaos to the affected regions.
As the storm made landfall, locals and authorities alike knew they were in for a long and challenging night. Residents at the Warrawagine cattle station prepared to hunker down, waiting for the cyclone to pass, while Pardoo roadhouse manager Will Batth planned to ride out the storm with a colleague, saying, “There’s no point in worrying. I can’t stop it.”