Source: Bureau of Meteorology

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 25

Issued at 4:01 am WST on Sunday 8 February 2026
Headline:

Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U) is to the northwest of Dampier and moving 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 Carnarvon, and adjacent inland areas.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell 21U at 4:00 am AWST:

Intensity: Category 3, sustained winds near the centre of 140 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 195 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 30 kilometres of 20.3 degrees South 116.1 degrees East, estimated to be 95 kilometres west northwest of Karratha and 185 kilometres northeast of Onslow.

Movement: west southwest at 12 kilometres per hour.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (21U) is at category 3 intensity and is expected to maintain its strength as it continues to move towards the southwest during Sunday morning.

Mitchell is forecast to move closer to Onslow during Sunday afternoon while remaining over water, with landfall possible between Exmouth and Onslow later Sunday, possibly early Monday morning if Mitchell tracks south over the Exmouth Gulf.
Hazards:

VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 195 km/h are possible along the coast west of Dampier to Mardie this morning if Mitchell takes a more southerly track, extending to Onslow during the day. Very destructive wind gusts may develop close to 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 160 km/h are possible to the west of Dampier to Cape Preston this morning, extending westwards along the coast towards Onslow during the day, 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 on Sunday morning. GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are forecast to extend west to Onslow and Exmouth on Sunday afternoon and evening, and then extend further south to Cape Cuvier and inland parts of the western Pilbara on Sunday night.

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.

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 on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning high tide mark 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.
Next Advice:

The next advice will be issued by 5:00 am AWST Sunday 08 February.

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

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