Cyclone Mitchell was moving alongside the WA coastline this morning ahead of an expected land crossing north of Carnarvon.

Gales with damaging gusts to 120km/h hit coastal areas south of Exmouth to north of Cape Cuvier, the Bureau of Meteorology says. 

“Mitchell is expected to track to the southeast later today and maintain category 1 strength until it crosses the Gascoyne Coast,” an update adds.

Meteorologist Angus Hines says Mitchell is hugging the coastline, making it difficult to pinpoint where it will make landfall, but it may hit south of Coral Bay. 

Mitchell could this evening pass directly over Carnarvon, which has a population of about 5000, while still at cyclone strength. 

The Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation has declared Mitchell an event for the purposes of the cyclone pool, with claims eligible for cover from 10pm (AEST) last Friday. 

The cyclone, which peaked at category 3 intensity over the weekend, is likely to fall below cyclone strength tomorrow morning while traversing WA’s southern Gascoyne region. 

“That will mean the wind will start to ease off, but there will still be the potential for significant rainfall as this tropical low tracks toward central WA,” Mr Hines said. 

Isolated heavy to intense rainfall – which may lead to flash flooding – is possible over the west Pilbara coast, extending to the west Gascoyne region today and overnight into tomorrow, the bureau says.