Source: Bureau of Meteorology

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 3

Issued at 8:55 pm WST on Thursday 22 January 2026
Headline:

Tropical Low (16U) has a high risk of developing into a tropical cyclone as it approaches the northwest Kimberley Coast on Saturday.
Areas Affected:

Warning Zone
Kuri Bay to Beagle Bay

Watch Zone
Bidyadanga to Mitchell Plateau, including Broome and Derby.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Tropical Low 16U at 8:00 pm AWST:

Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 45 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 85 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 85 kilometres of 12.7 degrees South 118.4 degrees East, estimated to be 710 kilometres northwest of Broome and 760 kilometres northwest of Derby.

Movement: south at 6 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Low (16U) is currently located to the northwest of the Kimberley coast. The system is forecast to intensify as it tracks southeast overnight and during Friday, towards the northwest Kimberley coast.

16U may reach tropical cyclone strength late Friday but more likely early Saturday morning, before crossing the northwest Kimberley coast during Saturday. During Sunday, 16U is forecast to track southwards through the Kimberley as a tropical low.
Hazards:

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 130 km/h may develop about coastal parts between Cockatoo Island and Beagle Bay as the system centre approaches on Saturday if the system intensifies to category 2.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are possible between Kuri Bay and Beagle Bay from late Friday or early Saturday morning and may extend west to Mitchell Plateau and south to Broome during Saturday morning. Gales may extend south to Bidyadanga later Saturday if the system takes a track further west.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible from late Friday for the northwest Kimberley district, including the coast and adjacent inland areas during Saturday.

Tides between Cape Leveque and Cockatoo Island are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark with LARGE WAVES and MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas on Saturday as 16U crosses the Kimberley coast. Tides will be higher than normal between Beagle Bay and Kalumburu on Saturday.
Recommended Action:

Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app.

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