The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has issued a blue alert for people in or near Cape Leveque to Broome (not including Broome).
Those in the area need to start preparing for dangerous weather and keep up to date.
WHAT TO DO:
- Get ready for dangerous weather by preparing your home inside and out.
- Secure boats, caravans, trailers, garden sheds, outdoor furniture, rainwater tanks, LPG bottles, loose material and rubbish around your home and workplace.
- Ensure your emergency kit is complete and check your family knows what to do.
- Check in with friends and neighbours to make sure they're preparing too.
The tropical low developing slowly off the Kimberley coast is expected to reach tropical cyclone strength today.
It is then expected to intensify further on Wednesday as it moves southwest, parallel to the Kimberley coast.
There is a significant risk that this system will intensify further into a severe tropical cyclone during Wednesday.
The system is expected to track to the south and then southeast during Thursday and a severe impact is likely along the coast between Port Hedland and Broome, during Thursday or Friday.
Tomorrow morning the system will bring wind gusts of 90 km/h and heavy rainfall may develop between Cape Leveque and north of Broome as the system passes to the north while intensifying.
Gales may develop between Broome and Wallal Downs, including Bidyadanga, on Thursday morning.
Squally thunderstorms with heavy falls are expected over the western Kimberley today and tomorrow.
Today, abnormally high tides are possible about the Kimberley coast between Kalumburu and Kuri Bay.
In some locations the tide may be close to the highest astronomical tide of the year.
For current Bureau of Meteorology Watch and Warnings visit www.bom.gov.au/cyclone.
Community alerts will be issued by DFES if the cyclone comes closer. There are four stages of alerts Blue, Yellow, Red and All Clear:
- BLUE ALERT means prepare for dangerous weather.
- YELLOW ALERT means take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.
- RED ALERT means go to shelter immediately.
- ALL CLEAR means that wind and storm surge dangers have passed but you need to take care to avoid the dangers caused by damage.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS:
- For SES assistance call 132 500
- In a life threatening situation call 000
- For the latest weather information call 1300 659 210 or visit www.bom.gov.au
- For information about road conditions and closures contact local Police or Main Roads WA on 138 138.
KEEP UP TO DATE:
Visit Emergency WA, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter, Facebook, listen to ABC Local Radio, 6PR, or news bulletins.
During a power outage, your home phone, computer or other electronic devices connected to the NBN will not work. Include a battery powered radio in your emergency kit.
Updates will be provided when the situation changes
