Western Australia gearing up for biggest cyclone in alm

Western Australia could be hit by the largest cyclone in almost a decade this week, with the weather system predicted to cross the coast near a major export port for iron ore that’s to be cleared of vessels.

A tropical low is forecast to develop into a cyclone on Tuesday and intensify as it moves southwest parallel to the Kimberley coast, according to the bureau of meteorology. The cyclone, to be named Ilsa, is set to be the strongest to make landfall in Western Australia since December 2013, it said.

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Australia’s western state is a major producer of commodities from liquefied natural gas to gold, and cyclones can halt production and damage facilities at ports and mines. Ilsa is poised to cross the coast north of the major iron ore export harbor of Port Hedland during late Thursday or early Friday.

Vessels will start being cleared from the Port Hedland inner harbor from 2 a.m. local time Wednesday, according to a notice from Pilbara Ports Authority. BHP Group and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. ship iron ore from the port.
Ilsa will be the sixth tropical cyclone and the strongest to cross the coast this season, which runs from Novovember 1 to April 30, according to the bureau. The only other cyclone to make landfall was Ellie in late December, which led to severe flooding through northern parts of Western Australia.

Read more: Cyclone death toll in New Zealand rises to nine as recovery continues