Big miners have halted exports from the iron ore-rich Pilbara region as a category one cyclone moves toward the Western Australian coast.
Tropical Cyclone Heidi is moving in a southerly direction towards the Pilbara coast and is expected to cross the coastline on Wednesday night.
Mining companies including Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals have stopped loading ships at Port Hedland, and are tying down all port and rail equipment in the area.
Rio said ships are being kept in the bay away from the port to avoid any damage.
Fortescue has halted the expansion of its port facilities at Port Hedland.
Trains that travel to the port from its Christmas Creek operations will be kept at the mine to avoid the severe weather.
A long-term closure of the port, from which over 192 million tonnes of iron ore was exported in 2011, could have a financial impact on the miners.
Importantly, however, production at their mines is yet to be affected.
Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals told AAP normal operations were continuing in the Pilbara, with their mines not threatened by the cyclone at this stage.
Both companies are monitoring the cyclone and are on stand-by to shut them if necessary.
BHP Billiton says it always takes a conservative approach to managing its operations in cyclone or extreme weather situations.
“We monitor all cyclone activity closely and shut in operations if we believe that is the safest course of action,” a spokeswoman said.
Any material impact on production would be reported in its quarterly production report due for release next week, she said.
Heidi could produce winds of up to 100km/h in coastal areas, and gusts may increase to 130km/h close to its centre, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
Heavy rainfall is expected late on Wednesday and overnight.
Up to 250mm of rain could hit central and eastern Pilbara, with isolated heavier falls near the coast.
The Port Hedland Port Authority activated its cyclone contingency plan on Tuesday in preparation for the wild weather, clearing traffic into and out of the port.
“There was enough risk to activate the plan and all non-essential staff will go home,” a spokesman said.
