Low off Australia’s northwest could become severe tropical cyclone

A cyclone blue alert has been issued for communities in WA’s north Kimberley region as a low builds off the coast.

A cyclone blue alert has been issued for communities in Australia’s northwest as a tropical low threatens to intensify into a severe tropical cyclone.

Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) issued the alert at 9.12am Sunday, which covers an area between the Kimberley communities of Kalumburu and Kuri Bay — the warning area extended beyond Mitchell Plateau on Sunday afternoon.

A blue alert means while there’s no immediate danger, residents need to start preparing for dangerous weather, and keep up to date.

The cyclone is expected to intensify into Tropical Cyclone Isla on Sunday night into Monday morning.

A cyclone blue alert has been issued for Kalumburu to Mitchell Plateau in WA's northern Kimberley, with a low likely to develop into a tropical cyclone late on Sunday as it tracks west-southwest.

DFES said residents can prepare by securing loose objects like “boats, caravans, trailers, garden sheds, outdoor furniture, rainwater tanks, LPG bottles, and rubbish.”

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) on Sunday said the low is “likely to develop into a tropical cyclone later today as it tracks to the west southwest.

“It is expected to intensify further over the following days as it moves along a general track parallel to the Kimberley coast.

“There is a significant risk that this system will become a severe tropical cyclone from Tuesday. Coastal impacts for the central or eastern Pilbara or western Kimberley coast are most likely Thursday or Friday.”

As of 2pm Sunday, BOM reports the low being about 300km north northeast of Kalumburu, tracking southwest at 15kmph.

Sky Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said by Monday or Tuesday, the low is a “pretty good” chance to become a tropical cyclone.

Sky Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said the low could develop into a severe tropical cyclone over coming days.

“As it tracks further west, it will continue intensifying as long as it is out to sea, and eventually it will make landfall,” said Mr Sharpe.

“The longer it takes the make landfall the bigger the system will be, and the more dangerous, so it’s a pretty good chance to become a severe tropical cyclone.

“We haven’t seen one of these make landfall in a long time, and that is a pretty solid chance to happen somewhere between about Broome and Port Headland … it may arrive as far west at Karratha, or make landfall a little early in the north Kimberley, but that’s looking less and less likely.”

Mr Sharpe is forecasting winds of up to 200kmph.