Cyclone Christine batters Australia’s west coast Tuesday Dec 31,2013

Ships waiting to be loaded with iron wait at Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The port has now been closed

Tropical cyclone Christine is battering the Pilbara coast, forcing people to take shelter as it brings strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous storm tides.

The Category Three Storm crossed the coast between Whim Creek and Roebourne overnight, with wind gusts of 180km/h near its centre.
The Bureau of Meteorology said at 3am (WST) Christine was 190km southwest of Port Hedland and 70km south southeast of Karratha and moving southwest at 17km/h.
It is expected to take a more southerly track during the early hours of Tuesday.
Residents in the affected areas of the Pilbara have been told to take shelter while the storm moves over.
A red alert is in place for people in or near the coastal areas between De Grey and Mardie and extending inland to Tom Price and Paraburdoo.
This includes Port Hedland, South Hedland, Whim Creek, Roebourne, Point Samson, Wickham, Karratha and Dampier