<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Residents in north-west </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/western-australia" rel="" target="" title="Western Australia"><span>Western Australia</span></a><span> are bracing for a direct hit from </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/cyclone" rel="" target="" title="Cyclone"><span>Cyclone</span></a><span> Mitchell, which has already generated wind of almost 170km/h as it heads toward land.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Karatha copped 100km/h and 90 millimetres of rain overnight, while Legendre Island recorded 169km/h and a 148km/h gust hit Barrow Island. On the mainland, trees were uprooted and rivers flooded.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The category 2 cyclone was expected to make landfall in Exmouth, about 500 kilometres south-west of Port Hedland, either late tonight or early tomorrow.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/south-australia-plane-crash-victims-pilot/74e4c924-8e5f-4e08-adfd-27c66e198f22" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>'Forever 20': Lucas wasn't meant to be on doomed flight</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Residents were on high alert as the weather system barrelled towards the coast with gale-force winds, big waves and dumping rain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've had a good morning of preparation and doing those last things that were left to the last minute, but I think that the town's pretty prepared and kind of knows what it's in store for," Exmouth Shire President Matthew Niikkula said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 300 homes and businesses were already without power but it wasn't safe for Horizon Energy crews to head out to fix the problem. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/cyclone-mitchell-forecast-campsite-mines-evacuated-as-cyclone-approaches-coast/dc27c584-7921-45ef-a0fa-e010244f5868" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mitchell was downgraded to category 2 this afternoon but still expected to pack a punch.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not just the wind risks we're concerned about," Bureau of Meteorology WA manager James Ashley said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The system will also bring really heavy rainfall, 100 to 200 millimetres over 24 hours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-news-one-person-dead-multiple-hospitalised-after-medical-episode-at-techno-event/ec3f13d9-2313-4779-93e8-dadc8c94f2f8"><strong><span>Possible mass overdose probed after rave death</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/road-closures-planned-pro-palestine-rally-ahead-of-israeli-president-isaac-herzog-visit-to-sydney/2c556b55-d43a-47db-8806-f342810e341f" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>'Draconian powers': Court fight ahead of visit</span></strong></a><span> </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So there's a risk of flash flooding and the rivers flooding through those areas and cutting roads and things like that."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Karratha, where about 80 addresses were without power, copped 100km/h and 90 millimetres of rain overnight, while Legendre Island recorded 169km/h and a 148km/h gust hit Barrow Island.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Department of Fire and Emergency Services district officer Todd Pender said despite the damage, Karrath and Gambier were "very fortunate".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some mine sites in the region were evacuated, along with the Blowholes camp site near Carnarvon. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The North West Coastal Highway was shut off north of Carnarvon to heavy vehicles and holidaymakers this afternoon, cutting off access to a number of towns, including Exmouth Coral Bay and Onslow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The storm could still be a category 2 when Coral Bay and Carnarvon feel the impact tomorrow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>WA Premier Roger Cook said it was "just a question of battening down the hatches and allowing the cyclone to run its course, and then we can see what any damage is that needs to be responded to".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a 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