SYDNEY, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned on Thursday that the severe tropical cyclone Ilsa, a Category Five system, is approaching the Pilbara coast in the state of Western Australia (WA).
The cyclone is forecast to cross the coast between Port Hedland and Wallal Downs Thursday night or early on Friday morning.
"The intensity of a cyclone is described on a numerical scale of one to five, with five being the highest rating," said BOM Senior Meteorologist Andrea Peace.
"A Category Five cyclone has estimated gusts of 280 km per hour and above. Winds at this speed are hazardous and cause widespread destruction," she noted.
Peace added that along with powerful winds, tropical cyclones can bring heavy rain and storm surges, creating life-threatening situations in addition to the cyclone itself.
According to the BOM, as of 6:00 p.m. local time, sustained winds near the center of Ilsa reached 215 km per hour, with wind gusts up to 295 km per hour.
The "very destructive core" of Ilsa, with extreme gusts up to 315 kilometers per hour, is expected to impact areas near Pardoo Roadhouse and De Grey Thursday night or early Friday morning before tracking inland.
The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a red alert for people between Bidyadanga and Port Hedland, warning of threats to lives and homes and calling on locals to act immediately.
"Shelter indoors now. It is too late to leave," the department said.
The BOM predicted that the cyclone will cross the coast in the early hours of Friday morning, quickly downgrade to a Category Four system, further move eastward, and eventually end up in the southern part of the Northern Territory as a tropical low on Saturday. ■