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Tens of thousands in Western Australia are enduring a night of terrifying weather as Cyclone Seroja hits as a category three storm.

The fast-moving storm made landfall at Kalbarri with wind gusts up to 170km/h before continuing southeastwards towards Geraldton about 9pm (11pm AEST).

It is expected to weaken as it moves inland, but continue to bring ferocious winds and huge dumps of rain.

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In Kalbarri where the cyclone first hit, 9News Perth reporter Darius Winterfield said the roof had been ripped off his balcony before he retreated to the back of the apartment for fear of the glass doors smashing.

"Water is flooding in through the windows and the main roof is rattling very loudly … we've lost power and have little phone reception, we are considering options if the roof goes," Winterfield said.

"My fears for the rest of Kalbarri tonight, Cylone Seroja has hit hard."

Just after 9pm he said it felt like the worst had passed Kalbarri.

"I can hear alarms going off all around us and poked my head out the balcony, can already see a few shacks that have been absolutely smashed. This will be devastating for many come first light."

Red alerts were issued for multiple towns along the coast, telling people in the path of the storm "to go to shelter immediately".

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The red alerts were for people in or near Carnarvon to Lancelin, including the Shires of Shark Bay, Northampton, Chapman Valley, Morawa, City of Greater Geraldton, Mingenew, Three Springs, Perenjori, Irwin and the townsites Coorow and Carnamah.

Premier Mark McGowan said the state should brace for major damage from what is a very serious storm.

Seroja has recorded sustained winds near its centre of 120km/h with gusts to 170km/h .

The most likely area to experience destructive wind gusts is on the coast from Denham to Geraldton, but destructive gusts above 125km/h may extend inland as far as a line from Dalwallinu to Paynes Find, including Morawa, the bureau says.

"Towns in this area very rarely experience wind gusts this strong."

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Just before 10pm, the cyclone was moving rapidly towards the southeast.

"Seroja is travelling at around 55km/h, and significant impacts are expected to extend inland through to Wheat Belt communities overnight," the Bureau of Meteorology said.

"The cyclone will weaken as it moves further inland on Monday but is still likely to result in damaging wind gusts, particularly to the north and east of the track, and heavy rain close to the track, as it moves through the eastern Wheat Belt, southern Goldfields and South East Coastal district.

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"A Severe Weather Warning is current for areas to the southeast of the Tropical Cyclone Warning area."

A woman has issued a public appeal after her mother's ashes were stolen from inside her car in inner Melbourne.

Police are investigating the theft, which occurred in Richmond some time between 7pm on Friday and midday Saturday.

The ashes were stored inside a small blue container placed inside a white box in Grace Daley's red Mazda 3 sedan.

Several other items, including a box of photos, were stolen from the sedan while it was parking at the rear of a home on Murphy Street.

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"I was quite inconsolable yesterday and quite emotionally drained – feeling like I've let mum down a little bit too, with being the one holding on to the ashes," Ms Daley told 9News.

"Then having to ring family and tell them, particularly my brother and my dad, that the ashes were gone, and the photos of mum were gone in the car. That was particularly difficult."

Ms Daley's mother died of breast cancer at the start of Melbourne's coronavirus lockdown so didn't get a proper funeral.

The family were waiting to give her a memorial service and release the ashes as a final show of respect.

"She wanted them to be spread in the Black Spur behind Hillsville of the mountains. I really want these ashes back so I can do that for mum," Ms Daley said.

In a Facebook post to a Richmond neighbourhood page, she described being "absolutely distraught" over the lose.

"If you took them (or know who did), I don't care about miscellaneous things. Keep them!" she wrote.

"But please return my mum's ashes and photos, I'm begging you."

Two teenagers have been charged following the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old in Queensland.

Police arrested two teenage boys in Brisbane's north today.

"A 16-year-old Mango Hill boy has been charged with one count of murder and a 17-year-old Wooloowin boy has been charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder," Queensland Police said in a statement.

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Both teenagers have been denied bail and have been remanded in custody to appear at the Brisbane Children's Court.

Police will allege that around 8pm on April 8, an altercation occurred between two 16-year-old boys, which resulted in one of the teens sustaining a fatal stomach wound.

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Police will also say the pair were known to each other.

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said the investigation was ongoing and continued to appeal for public information.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.