Here's a further update.......



CYCLONE Christine has intensified to a Category Three storm off WA's North West coast and is expected to bring destructive winds of more than 200km/h when it hits the Pilbara late tonight or early tomorrow.

At 2pm Severe Tropical Cyclone Christine was 95km north, north-west of Port Hedland and 205km north-east of Karratha and moving south-southwest at 13km/h towards the Pilbara coast.

Christine is expected to intensify further during today and cross the coast between Karratha and Port Hedland about midnight tonight.

Very destructive gusts in excess of 200km/h are likely near the centre as the cyclone crosses the coast.

Port Hedland has had about 20mm of rain today but is expecting heavier falls in the next 24 hours as the cyclone crosses the coast.

Destructive winds with gusts in excess of 130km/h are expected between Whim Creek and Port Hedland later this afternoon and continue overnight.

These winds should extend to the Karratha and Dampier region later tonight and extend well inland overnight and Tuesday as the cyclone moves south.

Gales with gusts to 120km/h, together with heavy rainfall, are occurring between Bidyadanga and Whim Creek including Port Hedland and adjacent inland areas and should extend west to Karratha by this evening and then to the inland Pilbara overnight and possibly as far west as Onslow.

Christine has already brought massive rainfalls to the Kimberley with Broome recording 97mm in 24 hours to 9am today, Lombadina 116mm and West Roebuck 86mm.


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