Western Australia’s Kimberley coast braces for category four weather system

Published: December 29, 2025

Daily London

Severe tropical Cyclone Hayley is making its way towards the north-west of Western Australia‘s Kimberley coast, bringing with it destructive winds and heavy rain which threaten to trigger flash flooding.

The category four system is moving south-east towards the coast, and is likely to reach the northern part of the Dampier Peninsula this evening, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest cyclone track map.

“Hayley is likely at its peak strength, and is forecast to start weakening today prior to landfall,” the bureau said.

Severe tropical Cyclone Haley is making its way towards the northwest of Western Australia’s Kimberley coast. (BoM)

“However, it is still forecast at category three strength prior to landfall.”

The system is currently 240 kilometres west of Cape Leveque and 255 kilometres north-west of Broome, with sustained winds near the centre of 165km/h and wind gusts of to 230km/h.

The current warning zone includes the area north of Broome to Kuri Bay, including Dampier Peninsula and Derby.

The bureau said destructive wind gusts of to 170 km/h could possibly strike the northern Dampier Peninsula, including Beagle Bay and Cape Leveque, from early this afternoon.

Those destructive winds could extend east to Cockatoo Island later this evening or early tomorrow.

Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is possible near the track for the area under the warning from today.

Tides are expected to be higher than normal as the cyclone approaches the west Kimberley Coast.