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Tropical Cyclone Mitchell lashes the Pilbara coast as landfall approaches

Source Weatherzone Sun 08 Feb 2026

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell intensified into a severe Category 3 system overnight and has been tracking just offshore of the Pilbara coast. The Bureau of Meteorology’s 6 am AWST advisory placed the cyclone roughly 165 km north-northeast of Onslow and about 250 km northeast of Exmouth, moving slowly west southwest.   Image: Visible satellite and radar imagery showing cloud and rain associated with tropical cyclone Mitchell on Sunday morning. Source: Weatherzone.  Mitchell is packing sustained winds near 140 km/h with damaging gusts to around 195 km/h, with the very destructive core brushing the Pilbara coastline before an expected landfall between Onslow and Exmouth later on Sunday or early Monday. The forecast highlights very destructive winds between Dampier and Mardie early Sunday, with damaging gusts extending south towards Exmouth, together with heavy rain, flash flooding and abnormally high tides.  The cyclone’s proximity has delivered some significant winds this weekend. Automatic weather stations showed Legendre Island recording a 163 km/h gust on Saturday evening as Mitchell’s eyewall grazed the offshore island. As of 6:10am WST Sunday, other exposed islands have also been significantly impacted: Barrow Island Airport reported a gust of 111 km/h and Varanus Island reached 135 km/h early Sunday, just after 6am WST. On the mainland, Karratha Aero was lashed by a 100 km/h gust on Saturday night and later clocked 98 km/h early Sunday, while Roebourne Aero measured 87 km/h on Saturday evening and Mardie topped out near 72 km/h.  Further east, Port Hedland Airport experienced gale-force winds as Mitchell tracked past offshore, with the station recording a peak gust of 93 km/h on Saturday afternoon. Rowley Shoals also saw strong winds, with gusts reaching around 85 km/h as the cyclone’s outer bands swept across the offshore reefs and islands. For both locations, these were the strongest wind gusts recorded since Tropical Cyclone Zelia last February.  Image: Visible satellite and wind gusts at 06:10am WST. Source: Weatherzone.  In the 24 hours to 6:00 am Sunday, Barrow Island Airport recorded about 74.6 mm of rain and Karratha Aero picked up 69.2 mm. Varanus Island was soaked by 92.2 mm, while Roebourne Aero collected 48.2 mm and Port Hedland Aero registered 43.2 mm. Rain gauges at Thevenard Island and Onslow Airport measured around 22 mm and 18 mm respectively.     Image: Visible satellite and rainfall observations at 06:00am WST. Source: Weatherzone.  The cyclone’s slow west southwest track means gale force winds and torrential rain will continue along the Pilbara coast through the day. The Bureau warns that very destructive gusts to 195 km/h remain possible between Dampier and Mardie, with destructive gusts to 160 km/h extending towards Onslow and Exmouth later Sunday. Damaging gales may also spread inland to Pannawonica and the west Gascoyne. Communities between Onslow and Exmouth are urged to finalise preparations and shelter in place as the cyclone approaches.    Image: ECMWF forecast wind gusts on Sunday evening as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell impacts the Pilbara coast. Source: Weatherzone.  As Mitchell edges closer to landfall, widespread moderate to heavy rainfall is expected along the west Pilbara coast, extending into parts of the Gascoyne, with a risk of flash flooding developing through today and into Monday. Localised bursts of more intense rainfall may lead to dangerous flash flooding near the coast, particularly around Onslow. Abnormally high tides and large waves are also expected along the Pilbara coastline, including Exmouth, with coastal inundation possible in low-lying areas during high tides.  Image: ECMWF Forecast accumulated rainfall to Monday 9th evening as the system moves south and weakens over western WA. Source: Weatherzone.  The forecast track suggests Mitchell will cross the coast between Onslow and Exmouth late Sunday or early Monday as a Category 3 system before weakening over land. However, with the cyclone still offshore and conditions favourable, it may maintain severe tropical cyclone intensity right up to landfall. Even after crossing the coast, Mitchell’s large circulation will continue to drive strong winds and heavy rain inland.  Residents in the Pilbara and Gascoyne should stay tuned to official warnings and follow all directions from emergency services. Further heavy rain, damaging winds and coastal inundation are expected before the system finally weakens early next week.  - Weatherzone © Weatherzone 2026