Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 8:49 pm WST on Friday 6 February 2026

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U) has developed to the north of the Pilbara coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
De Grey to Mardie, including Port Hedland and Karratha.

Watch Zone
Onslow to Coral Bay, including Exmouth, and extending inland through the western Pilbara to include Pannawonica.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell 21U at 8:00 pm AWST:
Intensity: Category 1, sustained winds near the centre of 65 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 95 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 45 kilometres of 18.5 degrees South 120.1 degrees East, estimated to be 255 kilometres northeast of Port Hedland and 425 kilometres northeast of Karratha.

Movement: west southwest at 20 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U) has formed to the northeast of Port Hedland and is expected to intensify further. It is forecast to reach category 2 cyclone by late Saturday,

Mitchell is moving in a general west southwest direction, and is expected to remain off the coast initially. It may begin to turn towards the southwest from Saturday night, which would take it closer to the coast. On its current forecast track, Mitchell is expected to make landfall over the western Pilbara coast around late on Sunday.

There is a slight possibility that Mitchell may further intensify to a category 3 cyclone overnight on Saturday, if it moves more slowly than forecast and remains over the warm offshore waters.

Hazards:
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 150 km/h are possible for coastal parts of the Pilbara around Karratha, Dampier and Wickham from late Saturday, extending to Mardie on Saturday night. Destructive winds may extend further west along the coast towards Onslow and Exmouth during Sunday as the core of Mtichell approaches the coast.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are possible for coastal parts between De Grey and Mardie during Saturday, extending west to Onslow and Exmouth and through inland parts of the western Pilbara, including Pannawonica during Sunday.

Widespread moderate to locally HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible with this risk persisting through the weekend for the Pilbara coast.

Tides between Wickham and Exmouth are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark on Saturday and Sunday and LARGE WAVES may produce FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas.

Recommended Action:
Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app.

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