Cyclone Quang forecast to ease significantly before reaching landfall

Tropical Cyclone Quang off the West Australian coast has intensified to a category four storm, but is expected to ease to a low pressure system before it reaches land on Saturday.

Winds of 185km/h have been recorded near the centre of TC Quang, with gusts of up to 260km/h. The system is tracking south at 10km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology said TC Quang rapidly intensified overnight, but will weaken just as quickly as it moves towards north-west Western Australia over the next 48 hours.

Remnants of TC Quang will bring heavy rain to the western Pilbara and Gascoyne tomorrow and Saturday. Many areas will experience the highest rainfalls since Tropical Cyclone Olwyn moved through in March.

Rainfall could reach up to 100mm near the centre of the low pressure system, but these falls are expected to be very isolated.