 By early on 8 January , the storm had begun to steadily gain power . Later that day , Clare achieved severe tropical cyclone status while located around 170 mi ( 270 km ) north of Port Hedland . Tracking southwestward , the storm continued to mature . On 9 January , the JTWC estimated the storm to have peaked in intensity with maximum sustained 1 @-@ minute winds of 110 km / h ( 70 mph ) and a minimum barometric pressure of 980 millibars . However , the BoM reported the storm to have been somewhat more intense , with sustained 10 @-@ minute winds of 140 km / h ( 85 mph ) and a barometric pressure of 964 millibars . This made Clare a Category 3 on the Australian tropical cyclone scale . 
