A terrible storm has forced the evacuation of northwest Australia

A tropical storm It is predicted to be the strongest storm to hit Australia in eight years, bringing unusual wind speeds that may surprise some West Australians.

Tropical Storm Ilsa will cross the northwestern Pilbara coast, where hurricanes are common. Landfall is expected between the iron ore exporting port of Port Hedland and the cattle station of Wallall Downs.

The storm is expected to bring sustained winds of up to 196 miles per hour, meteorologists said.

The Category 5 storm strengthened over the Indian Ocean on Thursday and is expected to maintain that destructive status early Friday, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Fort Lauderdale’s flooding shuts down the airport, stranding motorists for hours.

This satellite image provided by Himawari-8, Japan’s weather satellite, and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology shows Cyclone Ilsa approaching the west coast of Australia, Thursday, April 13, 2023. A severe tropical cyclone has lashed the northwest coast of Australia with officials warning the public to brace for devastating gusts of up to 171 miles per hour, strengthening winds and increasing rain. (via National Institute of Information and Communication Technology (NICT) via AP)

Category 5 hurricanes have average wind speeds greater than 124 miles per hour, with gusts greater than 174 miles per hour.

The last category 5 hurricane in Australia In the year In 2015, there was Cyclone Marcia. That storm caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Queensland.

Maroochydore, Australia – February 21: Residents of Bradman Street, Maroochydore watch as rain floods from the remnants of Cyclone Marcia threaten their homes as the Maroochydore River rises in high tide and rushes over Australia’s east coast on February 21, 2020, in Maroochydore, Australia. (Glenn Hunt/Getty Images)

Category 5 Cyclone Veronica in March 2019 did not cut costs in the Pilbara, but damaged infrastructure and disrupted the region’s mining and offshore gas industries.

Police closed the Pilbara Coast Highway ahead of this storm, and officials expect the Northwest Coast Highway to be impassable due to flooding.

A sign showing current hurricane conditions stands next to a highway in Port Hedland, Australia, Thursday, March 21, 2019. Port Hedland is the nexus of Australia’s iron-ore industry. (Ian Waldie/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Many on Ilsa Road have left the area, including ranchers, miners, locals and tourists.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Clem said people living in buildings not built to withstand Category 4 storms were told to evacuate.

He said additional emergency personnel, essential supplies and aircraft have been dispatched to the region.

Port Hedland Harbour, Western Australia, in 2020. (Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2020)

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The Met Office has warned of rain and unusually high tides.

“Any areas … where that system crosses the coasts will experience few Very destructive winds, winds over 200 km/h (124 mph). They’re going to do a lot of damage, office manager Todd Smith told reporters Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.