Red Alert as Rusty batters WA coast

Dramatic video footage emerges from WA as tropical cyclone Rusty nears landfall on the Pilbara coast.

TROPICAL Cyclone Rusty is now battering WA's Pilbara coast after being upgraded to a category four storm.

A red alert has been issued for people in Pilbara region towns between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and South Hedland.

These residents are being told to go to shelter immediately.

Dramatic video footage is emerging from Western Australia as tropical cyclone Rusty approaches the Pilbara coast.

The slow-moving monster storm was still over the sea this morning but the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says it's likely to cross the northwest corner of WA later in the day.

Conditions at Port Hedland are likely to get worse during the day. Picture: AAP

Rusty is expected to track south, weakening as it moves over land.

"Wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour have already been experienced in Port Hedland and conditions there are likely to get slowly worse during the day," the bureau said.

Dramatic footage of some of the winds is being posted on social media sites.

Gallery: Cyclone Rusty - as you see it.

Jordan Cantelo of severeweatherphotography.com.au posted a short video of winds battering Port Hedland, where many people have already evacuated their homes.

Tropical Cyclone Rusty has been upgraded to a category four with the storm battering WA's Pilbara coast.

His footage shows trees being bent over in the wind and roof tarpaulins flapping in gusts of up to 120km/h.

Another user, Swanss05, shot a short video while driving along the coast.

Rain can be heard pummelling the car's roof as the wind bends palm trees at 45-degree angles.

Meanwhile, WA residents have taken to Twitter to describe what's happening to them.

"Cyclone Rusty, it'd be really great if you didn't kill me, also...stop making my roof make scary noises," one user wrote.

Port Hedland is being battered by high winds as Cyclone Rusty approaches. Picture: AAP

Another added: "Cyclone Rusty please brake or better go to hell."

The slow-travelling cyclone barely moved overnight but wind gusts have strengthened to 230km/h near its centre.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the cyclone will begin moving south today.

Port Hedland has already had wind gusts up 120km/h, with conditions set to worsen throughout the day, the bureau says.

Destructive wind gusts of more than 165km/h are predicted in the area as the cyclone approaches the coast.

At 5am (WST) on Wednesday, the storm was believed to be 130km north-northeast of Port Hedland and 290km northeast of Karratha.

People in communities between Wallal and Pardoo, extending inland to Marble Bar, are on yellow alert, with a warning to take action and prepare to shelter.

Rusty's massive size and slow movement is set to unleash torrential rain and cause major flooding in the De Grey catchment and significant flooding in the Fortescue catchment and Pilbara coastal streams.

The deputy mayor of Port Hedland shire, George Daccache, a resident of 40 years, expects the cyclone to be one of the worst the town has seen.

"This one's a bit of a beauty," Mr Daccache said.

"It's going to be a pain waiting for two to three days for this to come and go.

Port Hedland councillor Bill Dziombak says there's been persistent rain in the area, and he expects it will become more intense.

"This is a very long, drawn-out slow nightmare," Mr Dziombak said early this morning.

"Over the last 48 hours we've had gradually increasing gales, gusty winds and heavy, heavy rain."

The rain had softened vegetation, raising fears of falling trees and damage to infrastructure, Mr Dziombak said.

Rising tides could also cause storm surges and flooding.

Mr Daccache said most of the town's residents were at home or in shelters waiting for the cyclone to hit.

"It's in Mother Nature's hands now, nothing we can do about it," Mr Daccache said.

FIVE FACTS ABOUT CYCLONES

• Tropical cyclones form over the ocean in the area around the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The water must be warm, at least 26C.
• Once cyclones arrive over land, their strength weakens. This is due to the lack of moisture and heat compared to the ocean over which it was formed.
• In Australia, cyclone season is between November and April but they can still occur right up until May.
• Cyclones range in strength between categories one and five. Category one cyclones generally have winds no stronger than 125km/h. Category five cyclones have winds of 280km/h and above.
• Cyclone names are taken from a list of 104. The next one after Rusty will be called Sandra.

Sources: Federal Attorney General's department.

Even for those used to living in WA's 'cyclone alley', Rusty is becoming a storm they will long remember.

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