Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Tropical Cyclone Advice
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre
Transmitters serving the Karratha to Onslow areas, including Mardie, are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning.
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 28
Issued at 06:55 AM WST on Sunday 08 February 2026
Headline:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U) is to the west-northwest of Dampier and continuing to move southwest.
Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Roebourne to Cape Cuvier, including Karratha, Onslow, and Exmouth, and extending inland through the western Pilbara to include Pannawonica.
Watch zone: South of Cape Cuvier to Wooramel Roadhouse, including Carnarvon and adjacent inland areas.
Cancelled zone: None.
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell 21U at 7:00 am AWST:
Intensity: Category 3, sustained winds near the centre of 130 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 185 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 30 kilometres of 20.4 degrees South 115.7 degrees East, estimated to be 155 kilometres north northeast of Onslow and 240 kilometres northeast of Exmouth.
Movement: west southwest at 11 kilometres per hour.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U) is at category 3 intensity and is expected to maintain its strength as it continues to track towards the southwest during the day today.
Mitchell is forecast to move closer to Onslow during the afternoon while remaining over water, with possible landfall between Exmouth and Onslow later today or early Monday morning.
Hazards:
VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 185 km/h are possible along the coast west of Dampier to Mardie during the morning, if Mitchell takes a more southerly track. VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 195 km/h may develop close to the coast near Onslow in the afternoon and extend along the coast to Exmouth as the core of Mitchell approaches in the evening.
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 155 km/h are possible to the west of Dampier to Cape Preston in the morning, extending westwards along the coast towards Onslow during the afternoon, and later extending to Exmouth in the evening.
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are occurring along coastal areas between Roebourne and Mardie, possibly extending inland to Pannawonica later in the morning. GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are forecast to extend west to Onslow and Exmouth in the afternoon and evening, and then extend further south to Cape Cuvier and inland parts of the western Pilbara tonight.
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 later today.
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.
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
Forecast
Paynesville (28.0423°S, 118.4833°E, 447m AMSL) set as my default location ›
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7 day forecast
Today: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers in the N, slight chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening, possibly severe with damaging winds and heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding in the N. Winds E/NE 25 to 40 km/h increasing to 30 to 45 km/h in the late evening. Destructive wind gusts exceeding 170 km/h possible depending on movement and development of Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell. Daytime maximum temperatures 36 to 43.
Forecast for Paynesville (28.0423°S, 118.4833°E, 447m AMSL) Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Summary 
Minimum 30° 29° 26° 22° 20° 21° 22° Maximum 41° 39° 32° 28° 29° 32° 36° Chance of rain 20% 80% 90% 30% 20% 5% 5% Likely amount 1-5mm 10-20mm 10-20mm 1-5mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm UV index Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Fire Danger Rating High High High Moderate - - - Frost risk Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm Wind speed 31
(km/h)20
(km/h)24
(km/h)25
(km/h)23
(km/h)27
(km/h)28
(km/h)30
(km/h)30
(km/h)29
(km/h)26
(km/h)23
(km/h)25
(km/h)18
(km/h)Wind direction ENE E NE NE NE WNW SE SE ESE ESE E ESE E ESE Relative humidity 38% 18% 42% 34% 64% 58% 66% 53% 62% 47% 47% 30% 36% 22% Dew point 18°C 12°C 18°C 18°C 22°C 20°C 17°C 16°C 14°C 15°C 12°C 11°C 10°C 10°C -
Sunrise and sunset times
Sunrise / Sunset for Paynesville (28.0423°S, 118.4833°E, 447m AMSL) First light Sunrise Sunset Last light Moon rise Moon set Moon phase Last quarter New moon First quarter Full moon 5:21am WST 5:46am WST 7:00pm WST 7:25pm WST 10:35pm WST 11:34am WST 
Waning gibbous
Last quarter Feb 09 New moon Feb 17 First quarter Feb 24 Full moon Mar 03 -
Warnings
- TC Warning: Roebourne to Cape Cuvier, inc. Karratha, Onslow, Exmouth & inland to Pannawonica. Watch to Wooramel Roadhouse, inc. Carnarvon
- Heatwave Warning Western Australia
- Heatwave Warning Western Australia
- Heatwave Warning Western Australia
- Heatwave Warning Western Australia
- Heatwave Warning Western Australia
- Heatwave Warning Western Australia
- Heatwave Warning Western Australia
- Heatwave Warning Western Australia
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Temperature for next 7 days
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Rain for next 7 days
