Source: Bureau of Meteorology

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 51

Issued at 6:00 am WST on Monday 9 February 2026
Headline:

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U), category 2, currently located near the North West Cape and impacting the Exmouth region. Forecast to move down the Ningaloo and Gascoyne coasts towards Carnarvon during Monday.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone

East of Giralia to Overlander Roadhouse, including Exmouth, Carnarvon, and Denham, and extending inland through the western Pilbara and western Gascoyne including Gascoyne Junction.
Watch Zone

None.
Cancelled Zone

None.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell 21U at 6:00 am AWST:

Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 30 kilometres of 22.7 degrees South 113.5 degrees East, estimated to be 110 kilometres southwest of Exmouth and 240 kilometres north of Carnarvon.

Movement: south southwest at 13 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U), a category 2 cyclone, is expected to move southwards near the Ningaloo and Carnarvon coasts this morning before taking a track to the southeast later today, crossing the Gascoyne coast and moving over land Monday night.

Mitchell is expected to maintain category 2 strength during today. Mitchell will weaken during later Monday and is expected to be below cyclone strength Tuesday morning as it moves over land through the southern Gascoyne.
Hazards:

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 130km/h are likely occurring over southwest parts of the North West Cape. Destructive wind gusts may extend south down the coast to Coral Bay during this morning, and then possibly further south to Carnarvon on Monday afternoon.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are occurring about remaining coastal areas from east of Giralia to Coral Bay, including Exmouth. GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are forecast to extend further south to Cape Cuvier and inland parts of the western Pilbara and far northern Gascoyne this morning. During Monday, GALES should extend further south through the western Gascoyne, developing over Carnarvon in the afternoon and possibly to Denham, Wooramel, Overlander Roadhouse, and Gascoyne Junction during the evening.

Localised moderate to HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible over the west Pilbara coast, extending to the west Gascoyne region on Monday.

ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are expected to rise above the normal high tide mark along the far west Pilbara coast including Exmouth on the morning's early high tide, and at Coral Bay on Monday afternoon's high tide causing FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas. ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are expected along the Gascoyne coast, including Carnarvon on Monday afternoon's high tide and possibly further south to Denham overnight Monday.
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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