Cyclone intensifies off the coast of Western Australia by Frances Runnalls
A powerful tropical cyclone gathering strength off the coast of Western Australia may cross the country’s remote Pilbara mining region early on Monday, forcing many resource companies to shut down operations.
Tropical Cyclone Nicholas is now expected to cross the coast near the north Western Australia tourist town of Exmouth. It is currently a category three system carrying winds of more than 125mph (200 kmh), but is predicted to strengthen into a category four by the time it crosses the coast over the next day or two.
The cyclone has proved itself to be rather unpredictable in its forecast track and when it may hit land. According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) there is a risk of impact on the west Pilbara coast on Monday or early Tuesday with gales extending much further inland. Emergency services have notified people in low lying areas that they may need to evacuate. A forecaster at BoM said the cyclone may maintain winds of over 100 mph (up to 165 kmh) or could weaken on its approach. At this stage the bureau think a glancing blow on the coast is the most likely scenario.
The sparsely populated Pilbara region, nearly 1200 miles north of Perth (1900 km), is home to scores of iron ore, manganese, nickel and bauxite deposits as well as nearby offshore oil and gas wells. Last March a powerful cyclone in the region forced oil companies to reduce Australia’s oil production by 50 percent for nearly a week.
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