Western Aust endure winds up to 215kmh

PERTH - Northwestern WA residents endured a night of 215kmh winds as tropical cyclone Laurence battered the region overnight.

A helicopter will survey the area on Tuesday morning to assess the damage.

The cyclone, upgraded to category five on Monday, is moving south over the inland Pilbara.

Buildings at a caravan park on the WA coast were damaged when the cyclone hit Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park, between Port Hedland and Broome, late on Monday afternoon.

The caravan park had been mostly evacuated.

The eight people who stayed behind escaped injury but reported widespread damage, a spokeswoman for the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA) told AAP.

"There's been some structural damage at the caravan park," she said.

Heavy rain fell over the eastern Pilbara region with more than 200mm of rain falling in some areas and more heavy rain forecast on Tuesday.

Laurence is expected to weaken gradually on Tuesday but destructive winds are still possible during the morning as the cyclone moves further inland.

The FESA has issued a red alert warning for residents in or near Sandfire, Pardoo and inland to Yarrie and Marble Bar to seek shelter, while those in De Grey, Port Hedland and the hinterland were urged to prepare to take shelter and prepare for flooding.

Roads have been closed in the area ahead of expected possible flooding.

WA State Emergency Services spokesman Allen Gale said heavy rainfall and strong winds posed the biggest threat.

"People just need to sit tight, wait for the cyclone to pass, and then watch out for rising rivers and creeks," he said.

Laurence, the first cyclone of the season off the WA coast, formed in the Timor Sea on Sunday, 13 December.

- AAP