Tropical Cyclone Sean with sustained winds of 130km/h and wind gusts to 185km/h remains off the coast of Western Australia.
The system was declared on Sunday before being upgraded to category three.
⚠️ Tropical — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) #CycloneSean is impacting the western Pilbara coast now, moving west parallel to the Pilbara coast in #WA, while strengthening. Gale-force winds & heavy rain to impact coastal & island communities between Whim Creek to Ningaloo. Latest: https://t.co/QdjBLkJdvZ pic.twitter.com/65Zq3UkBwyJanuary 19, 2025
It was estimated to be 185km northwest of Exmouth and would move parallel to the Pilbara coast before turning southwest and away from the mainland, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Monday.
But Tropical Cyclone Sean could bring heavy and locally intense rainfall to the region through the day.
A flood watch has been issued for the Pilbara and destructive winds of 150km/h could occur around the North West Cape.
Monday's waters between Onslow and Exmouth could have a storm tide triggered by the system that may produce minor flooding.
"People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours," the bureau said.
The cyclone has halted iron ore exports across much of the Pilbara, home to about 43 per cent of the global iron ore trade and 7.5 per cent of global LNG trade.
A cyclone emergency warning was issued for Barrow Island on Sunday evening with residents told to shelter indoors and stay in the strongest part of the building.
Barrow Island has a population of 45 people.
Authorities are searching for a missing pastor who was swept away in floodwaters in northern NSW. (Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS)
In northern NSW, authorities are searching for a missing Brisbane-based pastor who was swept away in floodwaters at Limpinwood near the border with Queensland, on Saturday evening.
The family of Willie Strickland, 53, posted to Facebook saying he had been leading a convoy of three to their accommodation after a wedding rehearsal before floodwaters swept him and his car away.
"We have been searching for him with NSW Police and SES since yesterday morning," his son Cheonton Strickland said in the post.
"His car was located approximately 400m downstream. Unfortunately, he still remains missing."
Queensland police divers have aided in the search.
Emergency services conducted several flood rescues around northern NSW as heavy falls continued before the trough responsible moved off the NSW coast.
Late on Sunday, residents along the Tweed River at Chinderah and Barneys Point were told floodwaters had started to recede before they had reached predicted peaks.
