Cyclone Narelle live updates: Monster storm slams WA coast as coastal towns face widespread damage

A man in Exmouth as cyclone Narelle slams the town has revealed what experiencing the storm has been like.

Leith Holtzman is in Exmouth looking after a friend’s dog as the category 4 tropical storm unleashes on WA’s north.

“It was like it’s trying to tear into your house - it sounds like a dinosaur outside,” he told PerthNow.

“From 4am to 6am it was horrific.

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“I had the cyclone shutters down, couldn’t fit under the bed but had about half my body under the bed.

“I haven’t slept, I experienced Cyclone Owen but this is another level.”

The Bureau of Meteorology have confirmed the destructive winds from the cyclone have severely damaged the Learmouth weather radar.

The radar covers the Exmouth area, which has been hit hard from the tropical system.

“The Bureau is aware that radar images from the Learmouth radar are currently unavailable,” a spokesperson for the weather organisation told PerthNow.

“Initial assessments indicate the radar has been damaged by severe tropical cyclone Narelle and is inoperable.

“Bureau technicians will attend site for damage assessment as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Pictures circulating on social media are showing the impacts of the severe weather in the State’s north.

See the entire gallery of photos ​here​

Cyclone Narelle has already made its mark on Exmouth, with residents saying the impacts of the tropical system are reminding them of the widespread devastation from cyclone Vance.

Cyclone Vance was a category 5 cyclone that tore through the town in 1999, causing an estimated $35 million in severe structural damage.

Local business owner Matt Gates told 6PR on Friday morning that the situation with Narelle on Friday has been “pretty scary”.

“The whole backyard is over ankle-deep in water,” he told hosts Millsy and Karl.

“There’s people that have lost their roofs, trees down, we’ve had a shed blown to bits.

“It’s pretty bad, it’s reminding me of Vance”.

In the latest News 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.

Cyclone Narelle has already caused damage in regional towns along the WA coast, according to unconfirmed reports.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Mid West superintendent Mark Bowan said while people remain in lockdown, the organisation has already received reports of damage across Exmouth.

He told ABC Perth about unconfirmed reports of roofs ripped off and flooding inside homes.

“We’ll start working through those now that more daylight is coming through,” he said.

Exmouth Shire President Matthew Nikkula called the widespread damage the “most scary thing in a long time”.

“We’ve had reports of multiple roof losses and torn off houses,” he said.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a “shelter indoors now” warning for Barrow Island and Montebello Islands.

“There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately,” a statement from Friday morning read.

Warnings for heavy rainfall, flash flooding and dangerous storm tides are also active for the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Central West regions.

Evacuation centres have opened at Exmouth Shire Hall, Shark Bay Recreation Centre and Canarvon PCYC.

DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm said he was “not certain” where Narelle would make landfall, and urged people to stay up to date with the latest information.

Read the full story here.

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

• 📍30km southwest of Exmouth and 280km north of Carnarvon
• 🧭 Moving south-southwest at 25km/h
• 🌀 Currently a category 4 severe tropical cyclone

• ⬇️ Expected to turn south today as it passes close to North West Cape
• 📆 Saturday: Weakening while moving south-southeast, impacting Central West and inland areas

Impact zones

• ⚠️ Current warning zone extends from Mardie to Jurien Bay
• 🌧️ Impacts spreading across central west and south west land division by Saturday

Wind threat

• 💥 Up to 250km/h gusts occurring between North West Cape and Onslow
• 💨 Up to 200km/h gusts in Carnarvon
• 🌬️ Up to 180km/h gusts in Denham

Rain & flooding

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

Coastal hazards

• 🌊 Very dangerous storm tide between Onslow and Denham
• ⚠️ Damaging waves and coastal flooding likely
• 🌊 Elevated tides and minor flooding from Cape Preston to Onslow

Key warning

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

Welcome to our live coverage on the latest movements of cyclone Narelle and how it is affecting WA.

Stay with us for the latest news and everything you need to know.