‘Still bringing some decent rain’: Warning amid aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Dianne
Locals have been warned ex-Tropical Cyclone Dianne is continuing to bring “decent rain” hours after it made landfall on Saturday morning.
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Residents have been warned ex-Tropical Cyclone Dianne is “still bringing some decent rain” after it made landfall on Saturday morning.
The category one system made landfall east of Cockatoo Island overnight before it weakened to a tropical low.
As of 8am, ex-Tropical Cyclone Dianne was weakening as it moved southward near Derby.
A severe weather warning was issued for those in parts of the Kimberley, North Interior and Pilbara districts.
“Heavy rainfall and damaging winds over the Kimberley with ex-Tropical Cyclone Dianne, extending south to the Pilbara and North Interior during today,” the Bureua of Meteorology alert stated.
“Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast for the northern Kimberley and spreading inland throughout the warning area as the system moves inland over the weekend.
The Bureau also warned wind gusts of 100km/h could cause damage to homes and property, as the “decaying system” moves further inland on Saturday.
“This risk of damaging wind gusts … may affect areas west of Fitzroy Crossing,” the Bureau said.
“Locations which may be affected include Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Kalumburu, Kuri Bay, Mitchell Plateau and Mount Barnett.”
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the ex-Tropical Cyclone was continuing to bring in rain to parts of the Kimberley on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s still bringing some decent rain to northern parts of the Kimberley,” Mr Hines told NewsWire.
“The heaviest falls have been around Derby.”
Mr Hines said the Derby region had recorded about 153mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday, with an additional 17mm recorded since.
“So about 170mm of rain so far in that community, and we’ve seen a few other locations in the Kimberley receive between 50 and 90mm through the course of last night and today as the Ex-Tropical Cyclone moves south,” he said.
Wind gusts of 114km/h were also recorded at Koolan overnight.
Video footage shared to Facebook captured water gushing through the Derby Jetty in WA’s northwest.
“River flowing down here,” someone can be heard saying in the video.
Photos shared online also highlighted the wet conditions in Derby.
Emergency WA issued a storm advice alert for parts of the Kimberley earlier on Saturday morning, urging residents to “act now and stay safe” amid severe weather forecasts.
Damaging winds and heavy rainfall was expected, with the alert warning the Derby, Beagle Bay, Cape Leveque, Kuri Bay, Mitchell Plateau, Kalumburu and Mount Barnett areas could potentially be affected.
Residents were urged to stay inside when the storm hit and be prepared for potential flash flooding.
“Never walk, drive, ride, swim or play in floodwaters as they are dangerous,” the alert stated.
“If driving, obey road closure signs and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.”
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) earlier advised communities in the Central Kimberley to prepare for “isolation” due to potential flooding.
Residents were told to stay indoors, ensure pets and animals were in a safe area, charge their devices, and stockpile essentials.
“Ensure your emergency kit is complete,” the DFES warned.
“It should include canned food and water to last five to seven days, a first aid kit, medication, cash and an AM/FM battery-operated radio and spare batteries to listen to warnings.”
Residents were also reminded to never walk, drive, ride, swim or play in floodwaters, to obey road closure signs if choosing to drive, and to not drive into water of unknown depth or current.
Areas which may be affected include Derby, Beagle Bay, Cape Leveque, Kuri Bay, Mitchell Plateau, Kalumburu and Mount Barnett.
The DFES also advised some roads may be closed, and encouraged drivers to avoid the area completely.
Originally published as ‘Still bringing some decent rain’: Warning amid aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Dianne
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