Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 8:47 am 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: None.

Watch zone: Mitchell Plateau to Bidyadanga, including Broome and Derby.

Cancelled zone: None.

Details of Tropical Low 16U at 8:00 am AWST:
Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 35 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 85 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 95 kilometres of 12.1 degrees South 118.1 degrees East, estimated to be 790 kilometres northwest of Broome and 830 kilometres northwest of Derby.
Movement: south southeast at 7 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Low (16U) lies over waters to the northwest of the Kimberley coast.
The system is forecast to intensify further as it tracks southeast today and on Friday, towards the northwest Kimberley coast.

16U is expected to reach tropical cyclone strength overnight Friday or early Saturday morning, before crossing the northwest Kimberley coast during Saturday as a category 1 system. During Sunday, 16U is forecast to track through the Kimberley as a tropical low.

Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are possible between Mitchell Plateau to Broome from late Friday or early 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.

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.


Current Tropical Cyclones