The Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC) has declared Cyclone Ilsa, which is expected to cause significant damage as it crosses the WA coast, as a cyclone event under the Federal Government’s reinsurance pool.

For the purposes of claims, the event began at 4pm yesterday, and ARPC will provide a claims period end date and time once advised by the Bureau of Meteorology.

The Bureau says category 2 Cyclone Ilsa is intensifying and is expected to cross the coast between Port Hedland and Broome late tomorrow or early Friday.

“A severe impact is likely along the coast and adjacent inland parts between Port Hedland and Broome, in the vicinity of Wallal Downs, during late Thursday or early Friday,” the bureau says.

“During Friday, Ilsa is forecast to maintain tropical cyclone intensity as it tracks past Telfer and further inland across the Northern Interior district.”

Extreme gusts of up to 270kmh are expected at the core of the cyclone, with damaging winds, heavy rainfall and high tides forecast.

The cyclone reinsurance pool is run by the ARPC and backed by a $10 billion Federal Government guarantee. So far Allianz and Sure Insurance have signed up to the scheme, which is designed to pay the entirety of every eligible cyclone claim.

Large insurers have until the end of this year to join, and small insurers until the end of next year.