Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Tropical Cyclone Advice
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

Transmitters serving the Onslow and Exmouth area are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning.

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 36
Issued at 03:10 PM WST on Sunday 08 February 2026

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U), category 2, impacting west Pilbara coast as it moves towards Exmouth this evening then down the west coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Onslow to Carnarvon, including Exmouth, and extending inland through the western Pilbara and northwest Gascoyne.

Watch zone: Wooramel Roadhouse to Overlander Roadhouse, including Denham, and extending to inland parts of the western Gascoyne, including Gascoyne Junction.

Cancelled zone: None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell 21U at 3:00 pm AWST:
Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 110 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 155 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 30 kilometres of 21.4 degrees South 114.4 degrees East, estimated to be 80 kilometres west northwest of Onslow and 70 kilometres north northeast of Exmouth.
Movement: southwest at 18 kilometres per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U) now at category 2 intensity is expected to maintain its strength as it continues to track towards the southwest during this afternoon and evening.
Mitchell is forecast to approach the far west Pilbara coast during the afternoon while remaining over water, with possible landfall close to Exmouth late this evening or early Monday morning.

Hazards:
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 155 km/h are occurring over coastal areas near Onslow, and are expected to develop over North West Cape (including Exmouth) this evening. Destructive wind gusts may extend further down the coast to Coral Bay on Monday morning.
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are occurring along coastal areas from west of Mardie to Exmouth. GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are forecast to extend further south to Coral Bay and inland parts of the western Pilbara and far northern Gascoyne later this evening or overnight. During Monday, GALES should extend further south through the western Gascoyne, possibly developing over Carnarvon, Denham and Gascoyne Junction during Monday afternoon and evening.
Widespread moderate to HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely over the west Pilbara coast, extending to the west Gascoyne region on Monday. Local areas of INTENSE rainfall leading to SEVERE FLASH FLOODING may occur around the west Pilbara coast around Onslow from later this afternoon, extending to Exmouth and Ningaloo, including the North West Cape, later this evening.
ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are expected along the west Pilbara coast, including Onslow and Exmouth. Tides are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark this afternoon and again on Monday morning's high tide, causing FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas. ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are expected along the Gascoyne coast, including Carnarvon, with Monday afternoon's high tide.

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.

Cyclone advices and DFES Alerts are available by dialling 13 DFES (13 3337)

A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at:
http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia

Marine Wind Warning Summary for Western Australia

Issued at 03:09 PM WST on Sunday 08 February 2026
for the period until midnight WST Monday 09 February 2026

Wind Warnings for Sunday 08 February
Storm Force Wind Warning for the following areas:
Pilbara Coast West and Ningaloo Coast
Strong Wind Warning for the following areas:
Perth Local Waters, Pilbara Coast East, Gascoyne Coast, Geraldton Coast, Lancelin Coast, Perth Coast, Bunbury Geographe Coast and Leeuwin Coast

Wind Warnings for Monday 09 February
Storm Force Wind Warning for the following areas:
Pilbara Coast West, Ningaloo Coast and Gascoyne Coast
Strong Wind Warning for the following areas:
Perth Local Waters, Geraldton Coast, Lancelin Coast, Perth Coast, Bunbury Geographe Coast, Leeuwin Coast and Esperance Coast

The next marine wind warning summary will be issued by 7:01 pm WST Sunday.
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Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecast or Local
Waters Forecast at http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/map.shtml for information on wind,
wave and weather conditions for these coastal zones.
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Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia

Fire Weather Warning

for Exmouth Gulf Coast fire weather district

Issued at 05:06 AM WST on Sunday 08 February 2026

Weather Situation
Very windy conditions expected over the western Pilbara ahead of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell. The tropical cyclone is expected to cross the western Pilbara coast on Sunday afternoon. Rainfall and winds speeds will depend on the strength and position of the tropical cyclone. For up to date forecast and conditions see current tropical cyclone forecasts and warnings.

For the rest of Sunday 08 February:
Extreme Fire Danger for the following areas:
Exmouth Gulf Coast

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises you to:
Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now.
Monitor the fire and weather situation through your local radio station, www.emergency.wa.gov.au and www.bom.gov.au.
Call 000 (Triple Zero) in an emergency.

For information on preparing for bushfires go to www.dfes.wa.gov.au.
No further warnings will be issued for this event, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings issued if necessary.