Tropical cyclone Ilsa reaches category three, Bidyadanga to De Grey move to yellow alert

Tropical cyclone Ilsa has intensified to a category three cyclone, with residents between Bidyadanga and De Grey now on yellow alert.

The system is currently 370km northwest of Broome, 500km north of Port Hedland, and has intensified to a category three tropical cyclone moving southwest at 7km/h.

A yellow alert urging anyone between Bidyadanga and De Grey to take action and prepare for a cyclone has been issued, with the remaining areas between Beagle Bay and Whim Creek remaining on blue alert.

The severe tropical cyclone is expected to continue intensifying before moving south and crossing the coast in the vicinity of Wallal Downs and Pardoo Roadhouse during late Thursday or early Friday.

During Friday, Ilsa is forecast to maintain tropical cyclone intensity as it tracks past Telfer and further inland across the Northern Interior district.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said residents needed to take the weather warning extremely seriously and warned the path was still unpredictable.

A 26-person emergency response team has been sent to the area, with additional aircraft sent to Karratha — two helicopters retrofitted with the capability to undertake medical evacuations if required, which will be manned with a St John WA paramedic.

A further six emergency vehicles will be deployed to the area on Thursday.

Mr Klemm said several sites along the coast, including Port Smith, 80 Mile Beach and Barn Hill, had been urged to evacuate.

“I’d like to see those caravan sites cleared. There are still 60 caravans at 80 Mile. I would urge them to get out now,” Mr Klemm said.

In addition to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, abnormal tides are also expected in the Kimberley and Pilbara.