PILBARA Ports has sent all vessels back to sea with a tropical low forecast to become a tropical cyclone impacting the Pilbara coast.

Australian port authority Pilbara Ports cleared all berths at the Ports of Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier, and Varanus Island by 4pm local time (8am GMT) on 6 February, while Port Hedland closed by 9.30pm local time, it said yeasterday Meanwhile Pilbara Ports will move ships out of the ports, which handle LNG and iron ore exports, because of the fast-developing Tropical Low 21U storm, it added. The port authority moved the export hubs into Cyclone Alert 2 earlier this week, market participants told Argus on 5 February.

.Western Australia's (WA) Kimberley region

Tropical Low 21U is currently hovering off the coast of Western Australia's (WA) Kimberley region, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). It is likely to develop into a cyclone by 8am local time on 7 February, as it moves south towards WA's iron ore-rich Pilbara region, BoM forecasts show.A notice from Pilbara Ports said the ports of Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier, Port Hedland and Varanus Island were being cleared.

Destructive winds extend to Onslow and Exmouth on Sunday.

On yesterday friday morning Tropical Low 21U was located over waters just to the west of Broome, and will move west-southwest over the weekend, tracking roughly parallel to the Pilbara coast. Meanwhile the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) expects tropical low 21U to develop into Tropical Cyclone Mitchell on Saturday morning, and strengthen to a category two system as it moves parallel to the Pilbara coast. A category one tropical cyclone can bring gusts up to 125km/h, with gusts increasing up to 164km/h under a category two system. Those destructive winds may extend to Onslow and Exmouth on Sunday.

Clearing the ports of Port Hedland, Dampier, Ashburton, Cape Preston

It is noteworthy that Pilbara Ports has begun clearing the ports of Port Hedland, Dampier, Ashburton, Cape Preston West, and Veranus Island .All berths are expected to be cleared by this afternoon.Chevron said it had not yet evacuated Barrow Island gas operations, which were expected to be within the cyclone track. Over $150 billion in commodities passes through Pilbara export hubs each year, with Pilbara Ports previously telling the ABC about $300 million worth of trade passed through Port Hedland each day. Pilbara Ports' other export hubs handled 52mn t of iron ore in December.

In 2025, Rio Tinto reported

In 2025, Rio Tinto reported a 17 per cent quarter-on-quarter decline in iron ore shipments due to port closures and infrastructure damage sustained in tropical cyclone Sean, which passed parallel to the Pilbara coast late January. The Pilbara Ports notice said the system is already developing slightly faster than forecast. “Gales are expected over the southern quadrants from tonight and are expected to develop into a tropical cyclone Saturday morning,” the notice said“

Warnings for coastal waters and high seas

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast path shows the cyclone will most likely pass down the coast close to the Pilbara ports, but could also change direction. Mariners were urged to check warnings for coastal waters and high seas.A warning zone was issued from Pardoo Roadhouse to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland. A watch zone was declared from Whim Creek to the Exmouth Gulf, including Karratha, Dampier and Onslow, and extending inland through the western Pilbara to include Pannawonica.

Reach category 2 intensity by today Saturday evening

“It should continue to develop and is likely to reach category 2 intensity by today Saturday evening. It may turn in a more south-westerly direction on Sunday and impact the western Pilbara. “Destructive wind gusts to 140 km/h are possible for coastal parts of the Pilbara around Karatha, Dampier and Wickham from Saturday afternoon if the centre of 21U approaches the coast.“Destructive winds may extend further west along the coast towards Onslow and Exmouth during Sunday.“Tides between Wickham and Exmouth are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark on Saturday and Sunday and large waves may produce flooding of low-lying coastal areas.”

About : Pilbara Ports

.Pilbara Ports was established on 1 July 2014, as a result of the Ports Legislation Amendment Act 2014 consolidating seven of Western Australia’s eight port authorities into four new regional port authorities. Pilbara Ports was formed by the amalgamation of the former port authorities of Dampier and Port Hedland.

Pilbara Ports encompasses the Port of Ashburton , Port of Dampier ,Port of Port Hedland ,Port of Varanus Island Pilbara Ports will also assume oversight of a number of Shipping and Pilotage Act 1967 (SPA) ports, including the ports of: Barrow Island , Cape Preston , Onslow , Port Walcott 

Source : Many sources 

#Pilbara Ports #Port Hedland,#,Port of Varanus Island # Port of Dampier #Tropical Low 21U storm #potential cyclone threatens