Tropical Cyclone Errol intensifies to Cat 4, expected to make landfall over Easter weekend

The Category 4 cyclone has changed course, and could make landfall on Saturday. See the latest update.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol forecast track map, as of 2:47am Thursday.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol continues to intensify off the northwest Western Australia coast with the Bureau of Meteorology warning residents in the Kimberley to stay alert as the weather system moves towards the mainland.

As of early Thursday morning, Errol had intensified to a Category 4 cyclone, and had completed a U-turn off the WA coast, now moving southeast.

Sustained winds near the centre of the storm have doubled in speed since Wednesday, and are now reaching 185km per hour, with wind gusts as high as 260km per hour.

The Bureau forecasts that the cyclone will weaken as it moves towards the mainland, dropping down to a Category 1 by the time it makes its estimated landfall on the Dampier Peninsula on Saturday morning.

Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines said Errol will take several days to reach the coast, and no severe weather impacts were expected on Thursday.

Tropical Cyclone Errol and Tropical Low 30U track map, showing forecast position on Friday. Source: Bureau of Meteorology.

“Conditions really will ramp up for the Kimberley in the north of WA during Good Friday as Errol gets closer to the coastline,” Mr Hines said.

“Errol is likely to drop down through the category numbers on Friday, but it’s still expected to bring strong to damaging winds, heavy rain, thunderstorms from Friday afternoon through until Saturday.”

A Tropical Cyclone Watch has been issued for an area of the Kimberley Coast between Broome and Kuri Bay.

The Bureau said the watch area includes Cape Leveque and Derby, but not Broome itself.

Meanwhile, Tropical Low 30U off the Northern Territory coast continues to lie over the northern Arafura Sea.

The system is forecast move to the east or southeast over Friday and Saturday, and currently has a low chance of becoming Tropical Cyclone strength.

The Bureau urged communities across northern Western Australia to stay up to date with the forecast track map and warnings, as there could be more changes in severity and arrival time before Errol makes landfall.