Northwest Australia braces for impact as Cyclone Ilsa intensifies.

Western Australia is bracing for the arrival of Tropical Storm Ilsa, which is expected to be the most powerful cyclone to hit the country in eight years. The category 5 storm is projected to bring wind gusts of up to 196 miles per hour and is forecast to make landfall between the iron ore export town of Port Hedland and the Wallal Downs Station cattle ranch. Many in Ilsa's path have evacuated the area, including ranchers, miners, indigenous locals and tourists. Police have closed the highway along the Pilbara coast, and officials expect that the North West Coastal Highway will be impassable due to flooding.