Body found after pastor's car swept away by floodwaters

He had been leading a convoy of three to their accommodation after a wedding rehearsal before his white ute was washed downstream.

Willie Strickland was found after a two-day air, land and water search. (HANDOUT/NSW SES)

Mr Strickland's family posted to Facebook on Monday saying his body had been found.

"We are shocked and devastated by this tragic loss," his son Cheonton Strickland said in the post. 

"Dad was a charismatic and loved man, who gave his life in service and ministry of the gospel.  

"He touched many people's lives through his work."

NSW Police said Mr Strickland was found after an exhaustive two-day air, land and water search.

"Shortly after 1pm today, the body of a man was located," a spokesman said.

"The body has since been identified as that of the missing 53-year-old man."

Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia said it was deeply saddened by Mr Strickland's death.

"Please join us as we continue to pray for the Strickland family as they navigate this challenging time, seeking comfort and strength in God's love and the support of their community," it said in a social media post.

In Australia's northwest, Tropical Cyclone Sean has been downgraded to watch and act as it tracks southwest along Western Australia's coast.

The category three weather system is 235km northwest of Exmouth and packing wind gusts up to 220km/h, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

It's not expected to cross the coast but meteorologists warn it could reach category four later as it moves out to sea.

A flood warning has been issued for parts of the Pilbara, as gales with gusts up to 120km/h and heavy rain lash coastal and island communities between Ningaloo and Mardie.

A storm tide is forecast for Onslow and Exmouth, and residents have been warned to protect their properties from large waves that could flood the towns' foreshores.

Severe Weather Update: Severe Tropical Cyclone Sean bringing heavy rain and damaging winds to parts of the Pilbara coast. — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) Video current: 9:30am AWST 20 January 2025.Latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/Gmhmf4z11xJanuary 20, 2025

Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said conditions would start to ease late on Monday and into Tuesday.

"While it might be an intense category four system off the coast, conditions will be easing along coastal areas but still windy, with gusty winds and also showers and thunderstorms likely," he said.

The cyclone halted iron ore exports across much of the Pilbara but Port Hedland's port has resumed operations and the ports of Dampier and Cape Preston West will restart from noon AWST.

The ports of Ashburton and Varanus Island remain closed.

Karratha Airport recorded 274.4mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, 9.1mm shy of the weather station's mean annual rainfall of 293.5mm.

This is the highest daily recorded rain total for the station since it opened in 1971, exceeding the previous record of 212.4 mm from 2006.

Local artist Carrie McDowell said Cyclone Sean had been unexpectedly fierce and trees were blown over in the centre of the town.

"At its most intense it was a little bit scary late yesterday afternoon as the winds peaked," she said. 

Ms McDowell said waterfalls were cascading down the rocky hills behind the town.

"My backyard is even flooded," she said.

Port Hedland local Chris Ward said the weather system dumped a heap of rain and hit the town with 90km/h winds.

"The winds on Sunday morning were pretty serious but they died off quickly and all the rain helped wash the Pilbara dust from streets," he said. 

"It's been an unusual summer, not the typical hot and dry weather of last year."