Cyclone Narelle live: Category 4 storm steamrolls along Pilbara coast, flights cancelled, towns batten down

We are wrapping up our live blog of Cyclone Narelle for today.

Thanks for following our rolling coverage. Join us again tomorrow as we bring you the latest on the category 4 system as it moves south west down the coast.

Photos were circulating on social media after weather associated with Cyclone Narelle kit Karratha.

There are three Cyclone Emergency warnings in place for WA, updated at 8.30pm on Thursday.

1. Barrow Island and Montebello Islands

2. Dampier to Onslow not including Karratha

3. West of Onslow to Coral Bay

DFES confirmed that there is a threat to lives and homes and residents in affected areas are in danger and need to act immediately.

BOM updated the cyclone forecast map at 8pm confirming that Cyclone Narelle is currently affecting the West Pilbara coast with severe impacts extending to the Gascoyne coast Friday morning.

Early Friday, Narelle will turn towards the south, likely passing close to the North West Cape as a category 4 cyclone. Severe impacts will extend from the western Pilbara coast to the Gascoyne coast overnight, and then extending south to Denham during Friday.

Very destructicve winds up to 275 km per hour may develop between Exmouth and Onslow overnight as Narelle moves closer to the North West Cape.

DFES has shared a revealing satellite image of Cyclone Narelle on social media.

“This is a destructive cyclone… don’t be complacent!” the caption read.

BOM released a severe weather warning at 6.11pm stating that damaging winds are possible tonight in north west WA with showers and thunderstorms around Cyclone Narelle.

The statement claimed fast moving rainbands on the far eastern flank of the system are likely to produce damaging gusts over the central Pilbara tonight.

Damagaging wind gusts peaking around 100 km per hour are possible west of Port Hedland this evening associated with bands of showers and thunderstorms around the system.

BOM shared a new Cyclone Forecast Track map at 6pm, confirming that the system is moving south west across WA.

BOM confirmed that the cyclone is currently impacting the west Pilbara coast with severe impacts expected along the Gascoyne coast later tonight.

The warning zone is unchanged from the 5pm update: the included areas are Whim Creek to Northampton, including Karratha, Onslow, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Carnarvon and Denham, and extending inland to Pannawonica and Murchison.

Cyclone Narelle is moving southwest at 18 km per hour.

Perth Weather Live has shared a new satellite photograph of Cyclone Narelle approaching the WA coast.

In the latest New Worthy episode, Ben O’Shea spoke to Professor Stephen Turton and asked if the cyclone is likely to reach Perth.

“It could get to Perth but it won’t be as a tropical cyclone,” Professor Turton said.

“But that doesn’t mean they’re not in for some pretty wild weather ... they’re talking up to about 100mm falling (in Perth) and some of that could be in short bursts which could lead to flash flooding.”

Listen to the full episode ​here.​

Here’s an update on all you need to know about severe tropical cyclone Narelle this evening:

• 📍200 km west northwest of Karratha and 260 km north northeast of Exmouth
• 🧭 Moving west-southwest at 20km/h
• 🌀 Currently a category 4 severe tropical cyclone, strengthening

• ➡️ Tracking parallel to the Pilbara coast
• 📆 Friday: Expected to turn south, strengthening as it approaches NW Cape
• 📆 Saturday: Weakening while moving south-southeast, impacting Central West and inland areas

Impact zones

• ⚠️ Severe impacts possible from late Thursday on far western Pilbara coast
• ⬇️ Extending south to Denham by Friday
• 🌧️ Impacts spreading across south west land division by Saturday

Wind threat

• 💥 Up to 275km/h gusts possible between Exmouth and Onslow (Thursday)
• 💨 Up to 220km/h in Carnarvon (Friday)
• 🌬️ Up to 180km/h reaching Denham (late Friday/Saturday)
• ⚠️ 125km/h+ destructive winds possible from Karratha to Exmouth then south

Gales

• 🌊 Up to 120km/h along coast from Port Hedland to Karratha
• ⬇️ Extending to Exmouth, Kalbarri, Geraldton (into Saturday)

Rain & flooding

• 🌧️ Heavy rainfall with risk of flash flooding in Pilbara and Gascoyne

Coastal hazards

• 🌊 Dangerous storm tide between Onslow and Denham
• ⚠️ Damaging waves and coastal flooding likely
• 🌊 Elevated tides and minor flooding from Port Hedland to Onslow

Key warning

• 📱 Monitor Emergency WA/DFES alerts and know your cyclone plan