Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 5:46 am WST on Friday 23 January 2026

Headline:
Tropical Low 16U likely to develop into a category 2 tropical cyclone as it approaches the northwest Kimberley Coast on Saturday.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Beagle Bay to Kuri Bay.

Watch zone: Bidyadanga to Mitchell Plateau, including Broome and Derby.

Cancelled zone: None.

Details of Tropical Low 16U at 5:00 am AWST:
Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 45 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 85 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 65 kilometres of 13.1 degrees South 118.7 degrees East, estimated to be 660 kilometres northwest of Broome and 710 kilometres northwest of Derby.
Movement: south southeast at 6 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Low 16U is currently located to the northwest of the Kimberley coast.
The system is forecast to intensify as it tracks southeast during Friday, towards the northwest Kimberley coast.

16U may reach tropical cyclone strength overnight Friday and intensify to a category 2 system early Saturday, before crossing the northwest Kimberley coast on Saturday.

Hazards:
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 130 km/h may develop about coastal parts between Cockatoo Island and Beagle Bay as the system centre approaches on Saturday.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are possible between Kuri Bay and Beagle Bay from late Friday or early Saturday morning and may extend west to Mitchell Plateau and south to Broome during Saturday morning. Gales may extend south to Bidyadanga later Saturday if the system takes a track further west.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible from late Friday for the northwest Kimberley district, including the coast and adjacent inland areas during Saturday.

Coastal residents within King Sound are specifically warned of the potential for a DANGEROUS STORM TIDE as the cyclone centre crosses the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide, with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING.

Elsewhere, between between Cape Leveque and Cockatoo Island tides are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark with LARGE WAVES and MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas on Saturday as 16U crosses the Kimberley coast. Tides will be higher than normal between Beagle Bay and Mitchell Plateau on Saturday.

Recommended Action:
Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app.



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