Severe Cyclone Strengthens as Huge Storm Nears Australian Coast

Severe tropical cyclone Ilsa strengthened as the biggest storm to hit Western Australia in almost a decade nears the coast.

(Bloomberg) — Severe tropical cyclone Ilsa strengthened as the biggest storm to hit Western Australia in almost a decade nears the coast.

Ilsa has developed into a category 4 cyclone packing wind gusts up to 230 kilometers (143 miles) an hour, and is expected to make landfall late Thursday or Friday morning, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The storm is set to cross the coast east of Port Hedland in a sparsely populated area.

Australia’s western state is a key producer of commodities from metals to natural gas and cyclones can often halt production at mines and exports from ports. Ilsa is expected to dump heavy rain on Newcrest Mining Ltd.’s Telfer gold and copper operation about 400 kilometers inland from the coast as the storm moves inland and weakens.

Ilsa is the sixth tropical cyclone and will be the strongest to make landfall this season, which runs from Nov. 1 to April 30, according to the bureau. Port Hedland — utilized by BHP Group and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. to export iron ore — cleared vessels from its harbor in preparation for the storm.

The only other cyclone to make landfall this season was Ellie in late December, which led to severe flooding through northern parts of Western Australia.

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