Tropical Cyclone Mitchell has been officially declared a cyclone event by the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation after the Bureau of Meteorology observed the system and advised the declaration process, signalling the start of cyclone-related insurance coverage as the storm tracks along Western Australia’s Pilbara coast.

The cyclone, which formed off the Pilbara region and has intensified over warm waters, is currently producing severe weather conditions including destructive wind gusts, torrential rain and the risk of coastal flooding for communities between De Grey and Ningaloo as it moves southwest parallel to the coastline.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts that Mitchell, currently at Category three strength with sustained winds near the centre and gusts reaching well over one hundred and sixty kilometres per hour, will continue to track close to the coast before making landfall between Onslow and Exmouth late Sunday or early Monday.

Emergency warnings and cyclone watches have been issued for stretches of the Pilbara coast, with authorities urging residents to seek shelter indoors, secure property and prepare for severe weather impacts.

Local emergency services have established evacuation centres in towns including Karratha, Onslow and Exmouth as high wind gusts already recorded at offshore island stations highlight the storm’s intensity.

Heavy rain accompanying the cyclone has led to rising river levels and heightened flash-flood risk, while abnormally high tides and storm surges threaten low-lying coastal areas.

Pilbara port operations have been suspended, and communities are bracing for continued disruption to infrastructure, power supplies and transport links as Mitchell approaches.

The Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation’s declaration of a cyclone event triggers the activation of the cyclone pool under the Terrorism and Cyclone Insurance Act, which covers eligible cyclone and cyclone-related flood damage claims for the period of the system’s impact.

This declaration ensures that insurers and affected policyholders can lodge claims for damage arising from Mitchell during the official event period, which begins from the cyclone’s onset and continues through its conclusion.

Authorities continue to monitor the storm’s progress closely, with forecasts indicating that severe weather conditions could persist as the system moves further inland in the coming days, and with tropical moisture potentially contributing to broader rainfall and thunderstorm activity across other parts of Australia.