Residents have bunkered down as an unusually powerful and slow-moving cyclone hits parts of the West Australian coast.
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Even those who have weathered previous cyclones are being warned to stay indoors because Cyclone Veronica "is different" from previous storms even as it weakens.
A red alert was issued for residents along the Pilbara coast to find shelter and brace for destructive winds of up to 155km/h and wind gusts up to 220km/h.
Veronica hit the coastline of the Pilbara region between Dampier and Port Hedland on Sunday morning.
"This is a very, very serious situation," WA Premier Mark McGowan told reporters on Sunday.
"People in that part of the world are used to cyclones but this one is different."
The slow-moving system was downgraded to category three as it continued to move southeast at 8km/h, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The core of the storm is expected to remain over the coast through the evening before weakening and moving west through Monday.
But heavy rainfall and a destructive storm tide in the early hours of the morning means major flooding remains likely along the Pilbara coast, the Bureau of Meteorology warned late on Sunday.
Port Hedland Mayor Camilo Blanco earlier said the rain and winds dramatically intensified within a short period of time.
"The rain has petered off a bit but it was belting down," he said.
Karratha Mayor Peter Long said the strong southerly winds reached 120km/h and caused vegetation damage and destroyed a shed.
"I'm concerned about the cyclone surge because it's a Spring tide which is the highest tide of the year so we're expecting a surge of 2-5 metres," he said.
The Departments of Fire and Emergency Services' urged residents in red alert zones to seek shelter in the strongest, safest parts of their homes and to stay clear of doors or windows.
They said people would need to stay in shelter longer than usual due to the destructive storm's slow pace.
The premier, commenting on reports people had ventured into the storm for selfies, warned against "stupid" behaviour.
"Dont take matters into your own hands," Mr McGowan said.
"Don't risk your own life, don't risk the lives of your children, don't risk the life of others."
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster James Ashley said Veronica was unique because it was a slow-moving system that would bring a long period of destruction.
"We are expecting a prolonged period - 12 hours or more - of destructive winds near the core of the cyclone."
Veronica is the third tropical cyclone this season and it comes as cyclone Trevor whips through the Northern Territory.
The last category four tropical cyclone to hit the WA coast was Christine in December 2013.
Australian Associated Press
