SYDNEY, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Tropical Cyclone Mitchell intensified on Sunday, Australia’s weather bureau said, as it tracked towards the country’s remote northwest, home to the world’s biggest iron-ore export hub of Port Hedland.
Port Hedland, as well as the nearby ports of Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier and Varanus Island, closed on Saturday as Mitchell developed off the coast of Western Australia’s resource-rich Pilbara region, Pilbara Ports said.
On Sunday, the weather bureau said Mitchell had strengthened to a Category 3 cyclone with wind gusts of up to 195 kph (121 mph). Category 3 storms, two levels below the most severe, typically bring winds that damage structures, crops and trees, and cause power failures, according to the weather bureau.
The federal agency forecast Mitchell to make landfall between the towns of Exmouth and Onslow late on Sunday or early Monday morning local time.
“Widespread moderate to heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is likely over the west Pilbara coast,” it said on its website.
Port Hedland, about 1,300 km (800 miles) north of the state capital, Perth, is the world’s biggest export point for iron ore and is used by miners including BHP Group, Fortescue and billionaire Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting.
Pilbara Ports said on Friday its ports were being cleared due to the emerging cyclone risk.
(Reporting by Sam McKeith in SydneyEditing by Rod Nickel)
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