Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 11:59 am WST on Friday 6 February 2026

Headline:
Tropical Low 21U is expected to develop into a tropical cyclone on Saturday, to the north of the Pilbara coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Pardoo Roadhouse to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland.

Watch zone: Whim Creek to the Exmouth Gulf, including Karratha, Dampier and Onslow, and extending inland through the western Pilbara to include Pannawonica.

Cancelled zone: None.

Details of Tropical Low 21U at 11:00 am AWST:
Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 55 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 85 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 30 kilometres of 18.0 degrees South 121.7 degrees East, estimated to be 55 kilometres west of Broome and 415 kilometres northeast of Port Hedland.
Movement: west southwest at 11 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Low 21U is located over water to the west of Broome. It is forecast to develop into a tropical cyclone by Saturday morning.

Over the weekend, 21U will continue to move in a general west southwest direction, remaining offshore initially but moving closer towards the Pilbara Coast. It should continue to develop and is likely to reach category 2 intensity by Saturday evening. It may turn in a more south-westerly direction on Sunday and impact the western Pilbara.

Hazards:
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 140 km/h are possible for coastal parts of the Pilbara around Karatha, Dampier and Wickham from Saturday afternoon if the centre of 21U approaches the coast. Destructive winds may extend further west along the coast towards Onslow and Exmouth during Sunday.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are possible for coastal parts between Pardoo and Mardie during Saturday, extending west to Onslow and Exmouth on Sunday and through inland parts of the western Pilbara including Pannawonica.

Widespread moderate to locally HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible from later tonight with this risk persisting through the weekend for the Pilbara coast.

Tides between Wickham and Exmouth are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark on Saturday and Sunday and LARGE WAVES may produce FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas.

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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