<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tropical </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/cyclone" rel="" target="" title="Cyclone"><span>Cyclone</span></a><span> Narelle has re-formed off the north-west of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/western-australia" rel="" target="" title="Western Australia"><span>Western Australia</span></a><span> and is barrelling toward the coastline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the system's final destination is still uncertain, the storm brings the promise of a massive "rain dump" on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/perth" rel="" target="" title="Perth"><span>Perth</span></a><span> after making landfall.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This evening it was a category 3 storm generating wind gusts up to 165km/h less than 300 kilometres off the PIlbara coast near Port Hedland.</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/petrol-price-hikes-compared-to-three-interest-rate-rises/c330f8cf-e872-4053-9883-fbd21d3c8ef9"><strong><span>Experts liken sky-high fuel prices to three interest rate rises</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One possible scenario suggests Narelle could cross Exmouth as a category 5 storm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cyclone Vance decimated Exmouth when it hit 27 years ago with 267km/h winds smashing the town.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>History could repeat itself this weekend.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/tropical-cyclone-narelle-to-cross-western-australia-coast-massive-rain-dump-on-perth/42610621-ed26-47bb-a0d6-44c4c1e527e5" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As it continues to move to the west-southwest, offshore from the Pilbara coast, we're expecting [Narelle] to reach category 4 or 5 intensity," James Ashley from the Bureau of Meteorology told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A category 5 is the most dangerous system, packing winds of more than 200km/h.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Narelle's path is unpredictable. It could hit Exmouth as a category 5 but another forecast model suggests it might track further south and pass over Denham as a category 3.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Either way, Perth is set for a soaking.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're expecting rainfall, even in Perth, of 50 millimetres to 100 millimetres over the course of Friday and Saturday," Ashley said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So, regardless of the coastal crossing there will be significant rainfall."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Businesses across Perth aren't taking any chances, with a number of events already cancelled, postponed or relocated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ice Cream Factory in Northbridge is moving its outdoor event to RAC Arena.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think everyone rocking up to a concert and it being cancelled is just not an option for us," organiser Chris Bausor told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We value the trust that customers place in us by buying a ticket ahead of time, so moving it to RAC was the only option."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Daryl Braithwaite at Ascot racecourse has been rescheduled but Scarborough Beach Weekender is forging on, with workers starting their set up today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rottnest ferries are still going ahead at this stage but the Island Authority is offering free cancellations on campground bookings and boat moorings.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Preparations get under way</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's rare for such a strong system to track so far south.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Almost 50 years ago Cyclone Alby brought 150km/h winds to Busselton, killing five people and destroying the iconic jetty.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A decade later Cyclone Ned hit near Rockingham, taking down power lines and damaged property.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>WA Premier Roger Cook has asked locals to "heed the advice of emergency services".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We know you've got experience in dealing with cyclone events but they are unpredictable," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And it looks like some people are taking that advice, with towns in the north of WA beginning to prepare as Narelle gains strength off the coast.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kalbarri knows how devastating a cyclone can be after being smashed by Seroja almost five years ago.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Taking no chances this time around, locals were stocking up on sandbags today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Caravan parks in Kalbarri, as well as those further north in Denham and Exmouth, are evacuating travellers and turning away any new bookings.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kalbarri locals spent the day tidying up and even with preparations in full swing, they're hoping for the best.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think everyone is just waiting to see what happens, it's an unknown if it's gonna cross here or Carnarvon or Jurien Bay," Graeme Cull from Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mark and Janice Murrie lived through the category 3 cyclone in 2021 and they say locals are scarred.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There will be a lot of stressed people here," Mr Murrie told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"'Cause the mental health after the last one - people were just shell shocked.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We were lucky cause we didn't get a lot of damage - a lot of mess but not a lot of damage."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Narelle getting stronger and more unpredictable</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Right now for the people in towns dotted along the Mid West Coast it's a waiting game as Narelle grows stronger and more unpredictable.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It will really ramp up later tomorrow, with very destructive wind gusts up to 260 km/h possible for west of Onslow, as the system moves closer to the North West Cape.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those wind gusts could extend south to Carnarvon during Friday, which the latest mapping showing the area could take a direct category 4 hit.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Denham could see gusts of close to 200 km/h later on Friday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The system has already dumped huge rainfall totals, with 177 millimetres recorded in Cygnet Bay, north of Broome.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Narelle's impacts will be felt in Perth on Friday and Saturday.</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 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