Red alert for Australian cyclone

WESTERN AUSTRALIA - A high-level red alert is in place for communities in the Pilbara as category two tropical cyclone Carlos tracks along the coast.

"There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately," a Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) said in an advisory.

The red alert is for coastal communities between Whim Creek and Mardie including Karratha, Roebourne, Dampier, Wickham and Point Samson, with residents warned to expect high winds and possible flooding.

FESA urged residents in the alert zone to get ready to move to the strongest and safest parts of their homes or to a relocation centre at the Pilbara TAFE in Karratha.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a cyclone warning for coastal areas from Pardoo to Coral Bay and a cyclone watch for areas from Coral Bay to Carnarvon.

At 5am (WST) Carlos was about 95km northwest of Port Hedland and 135km northeast of Karratha and moving southwest at 22km/h.

On Monday a cyclone-fuelled mini tornado ripped through parts of Karratha, damaging cars and buildings and bringing down power lines.

A number of roads have been closed while schools in Karratha, Port Hedland and Roebourne will be closed on Tuesday as the cyclone passes.

Oil, gas and port installations in the region have also been battened down in readiness for expected heavy weather.

FESA has issued a yellow alert for Pardoo, Port Hedland, South Hedland and surrounding communities with residents there urged to secure items around their homes and move vehicles under cover.

A relocation centre has been set up at the Civic Centre in Port Hedland.

A lower level blue alert is in place for communities between Mardie and Coral Bay including Onslow, Pannawonica and Exmouth.

The bureau says Carlos is expected to continue moving in a general west southwest track on Tuesday, close to the Pilbara coast.

It says gales with wind gusts to 100km/h are being experienced between Port Hedland and Karratha and they will extend west towards Exmouth later on Tuesday and towards Coral Bay early on Wednesday.

There was a risk of destructive winds with gusts exceeding 125km/h between Whim Creek and Dampier on Tuesday morning, the bureau said.

"Damaging waves and flooding of low lying coastal areas are possible particularly on Tuesday's high tide in the Karratha region," it said.

Elsewhere in Western Australia, flood warnings remain in place for the Greenough, Murchison and Gascoyne River catchments.

- AAP