‘Prepare now’: Aussies warned as ‘fully fledged tropical cyclone’ set to develop off WA coast

Australians have been warned to brace for a “fully fledged tropical cyclone” just a month after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred made landfall.

Australians have been warned to ‘prepare now’ for a ‘fully fledged tropical cyclone’ expected to develop along the WA coast on Monday. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology.

Australians have been warned to “prepare now” for a “fully fledged tropical cyclone” expected to develop along the WA coast on Monday.

Tropical Low 29U was northwest of Kalumburu, moving slowly southwest as of Sunday morning, with Bureau Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines confirming the system was still on track to become a “fully fledged tropical cyclone”.

“The main rason we haven’t seen the tropical cyclone fall yet is because there has been just enough wind in the atmosphere to push the showers and thunderstorms a little bit to the south, where the main band of convection down here is slightly offset from the wind circulation,” Mr Hines said.

“For a tropical cyclone to develop, you need all of those things to be in alignment, and we have’t quite seen that yet.

“However, this tropical low is still strengthening, so it is still forecast to become a fully fledged tropical cyclone, it’s just going to take slightly longer to get there.”

Australians have been warned to ‘prepare now’ for a ‘fully fledged tropical cyclone’ now expected to develop along the WA coast on Monday. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology.

The tropical cyclone was initially forecast to develop over Saturday night. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology.

Mr Hines said the cyclone would likely develop on Monday, despite previous predictions it would develop late Saturday.

“Through (Monday) afternoon and evening, we could see a category one tropical cyclone a few hundred kilometres north of the coastline,” Mr Hines said.

“As that development is occurring, we will still see some strong winds and potential for further heavy rain along the coast.

“It’s likely to continue to develop through the first half of the coming week, potentially to a severe category three tropical cyclone by Wednesday.”

The Bureau warned increased rain, wind and wave impacts were expected along the northwest Kimberley coast on Sunday and Monday which could continue into Tuesday “if the system takes a more southward track than forecast”.

Increased rain, wind and wave impacts are expected along the northwest Kimberley coast on Sunday and Monday. Picture: Windy.com

Mr Hines said while the system was currently on a westward path away from Australia, there were still several scenarios that could unfold on Thursday, Friday and next weekend.

“A range of paths are still possible that the system could take, including the chance that it deviates southwards, back towards the coastline,” he said.

“That could mean further weather impacts, including wind, rain, thunderstorms and large waves for the Pilbara or the Kimberley Coast.

“(It) potentially could even double back and maybe impact parts of the Western and top end — those are all possibilities, but none of them at this stage are certainties.”

Mr Hines urged people to keep an eye out for updates.

A warning zone has been issued for Kalumburu to Kuri Bay, not including Kuri Bay.

Residents in those areas, including the Kimberley Coastal Islands, have been urged to “prepare now” for the cyclone.

“Although there is no immediate danger you need to start preparing for dangerous weather and keep up to date,” an Emergency WA alert stated.

The forecast track map for the tropical cyclone. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology.

Residents were advised to prepare their homes “inside and out”, including by securing boats, caravans, trailers, garden sheds, outdoor furniture, rainwater tanks, LPG bottles, loose material and rubbish.

“Ensure your emergency kit is complete and check your family knows what to do. Your emergency kit should include canned food and water to last five to seven days, a first aid kit, medication, cash and a battery-operated radio and spare batteries to listen to warnings,” the alert stated.

The forecast comes just more than a month after communities in Queensland and northern NSW were hit with significant damage by Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low as it approached the mainland on March 8; however, the system still managed to cause significant damage, with fierce winds ripping up homes and trees and heavy rainfall causing dangerous flash flooding across South East Queensland and northern NSW.

Originally published as ‘Prepare now’: Aussies warned as ‘fully fledged tropical cyclone’ set to develop off WA coast