Storm Warning

This storm may affect a few mining stocks short term...
Cyclone Lurks Off West Australia as Storm Hits Major Mine

Gas and iron ore operations on Australia’s west coast are bracing for an approaching cyclone just as a severe storm in the nation’s northeast dumps heavy rain on Rio Tinto Group’s biggest bauxite mine.

Tropical cyclone Veronica is 545 kilometers (339 miles) north of Port Hedland, a key export point for Western Australia’s iron ore shipments. The storm is forecast to intensify as it moves closer to oil and gas operations on Saturday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. In the east of the country, Rio has suspended its Weipa bauxite operations after cyclone Trevor made landfall.More...

For the one in WA, gas from this area is also the main source of gas used within WA.

In addition to that gas being used "as gas" by consumers it is also the source of over a third of the electricity used in the south-west region (including Perth) and virtually all electricity across most of the rest of WA apart from those communities relying on diesel.

Any major disruption to gas production would thus have an impact on just about every business and individual in WA.

That's a hypothetical "what if?" sort of comment not an actual prediction of imminent destruction of anything. But if it did happen, well there's some seriously important stuff there yes.