Tropical cyclone Melanie, a category two storm with winds of up to 120 kph (75 mph), was nearing Australia's remote north-west coast on Saturday, prompting meteorologists to issue cyclone warnings for coastal regions.
Tropical cyclone Melanie was estimated to be 410 kilometres north of Port Hedland, a key terminal for the shipment of iron ore, and 465 kilometres northeast of oil producing region Karratha, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said. The cyclone was moving south at about 11 kilometres per hour.
Melanie is the first storm of the November-to-April season to form in Australia's 'cyclone alley', which is also home to the world's biggest iron ore deposits and major oil and gas fields. Normally the area sees about five storms each season.
The bureau said it has declared a cyclone warning for coastal areas from Mardie to Wallal including Port Hedland and Karratha-Dampier, while a cyclone watch was issued for remaining coastal parts between Broome and Coral Bay.
"Gales with gusts to 120 kilometres per hour are possible on the coast between Mardie and Wallal, including Karratha and Port Hedland, on Sunday as the cyclone moves closer to the coast," the weather bureau said on its Web site (www.bom.gov.au).