News

High tropical cyclone risk for Kimberley coast

Source Weatherzone Thu 22 Jan 2026

A tropical low gaining strength to the north of Western Australia has a high chance of approaching the Kimberley coast as a tropical cyclone this weekend. At 8am AWST on Thursday, the tropical low was located around 790 km to the northwest of Broome, with sustained wind speeds of 35 km/h and gusts of 85 km/h near its centre. The tropical low is expected to gain strength as it moves towards the southeast on Thursday and Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the system will reach tropical cyclone strength overnight Friday or early Saturday, before crossing the Kimberley coast on Saturday, most likely as a category one tropical cyclone. Following landfall, the system will weaken and move inland over the Kimberley on Sunday and possibly across the state’s Norther Interior early next week. Difference between a tropical low and tropical cyclone The main difference between a tropical low and tropical cyclone is wind speed: A tropical low is a low pressure system in the tropics that is not yet producing wind speeds sufficient to be classified as a tropical cyclone. These lows can still cause heavy rain, thunderstorms and localised areas of damaging winds. A tropical cyclone is a stronger low pressure system that has gale force winds (mean 10-minute wind speed of 63 km/h or higher) extending around at least half of its core for at least 6 hours. Tropical cyclones can cause heavy rain, flooding, storm surges and damaging to very destructive winds. Tropical lows and tropical cyclones can both cause severe weather, although the latter is typically more dangerous. Heavy rain and damaging winds on the way At this stage, heavy rain and flooding will be the primary threats for the Kimberley region because the system is expected to make landfall as either a tropical low or a low-end tropical cyclone (category one is the lowest level on Australia's five-tiered tropical cyclone scale). Heavy rain that could cause flooding is possibly over the Kimberley from late Friday and could continue Saturday and Sunday. Areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms may also extend inland towards the Interior of WA early next week. Image: Forecast accumulated rain during the next seven days. Source: Weatherzone. Damaging gale force winds are also possible for parts of the Kimberley, most likely between the Mitchell Plateau and Broom, as the system approaches and crosses the coast, particularly if it makes landfall as a tropical cyclone. What will the cyclone be named? If this system becomes the next tropical cyclone to form in Australia’s area of responsibility, it will be named Luana. This would be the 8th tropical cyclone in the Australian region so far this season. - Weatherzone © Weatherzone 2026