A cyclone off the northern coast of Western Australia has escalated to a category 4 storm, threatening remote communities. Severe Tropical Cyclone Errol is currently situated approximately 500km north-west of Broome and is expected to shift course from a southerly to a south-easterly direction towards the west Kimberley coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has cautioned that if the cyclone accelerates unexpectedly, destructive wind gusts could reach upwards of 130km/h in areas between Cockatoo Island and Beagle Bay by late tomorrow. Additionally, the threat of damaging winds could extend further south to Broome, should the cyclone deviate slightly from its predicted path.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines has indicated that Cyclone Errol is likely to weaken significantly, dropping to a category 2 system today and continuing to diminish throughout the weekend. However, affected communities may feel its effects until tomorrow, with the potential for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and damaging winds across parts of the Kimberley and Eastern Pilbara over the weekend.
The weather event is anticipated to reach around the northern tip of the Dampier Peninsula early Saturday morning as a category one system, with possible wind gusts of up to 125km/h. Consequently, a cyclone watch has been issued for the Kimberley coast, encompassing areas from Kuri Bay to Broome, signalling the need for residents to stay vigilant and prepared for inclement weather.