Broome residents told to prepare as cyclone forms off WA's north
Residents in WA's north are on alert following the formation of Tropical Cyclone Hayley off the coast overnight.
3 hours agoSun 28 Dec 2025 at 9:27pm
A watch zone that includes the towns of Broome and Derby has been established. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)
In short:
A tropical cyclone has formed off Western Australia's north coast overnight.
Cyclone Hayley is a category one system and is expected to cross the Kimberley coast this week.
What's next?
The tourist town of Broome is in the watch zone and residents there are being asked to prepare.
Residents in the West Australian tourist town of Broome are being asked to prepare after a tropical cyclone formed off the state's north coast overnight.
Tropical Cyclone Hayley is about 535 kilometres north-west of Broome and is a category one system.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has established a watch zone from Broome to Cockatoo Island, which includes the town of Derby.
Current projections show Cyclone Hayley will intensify to a category two system by Monday afternoon and start to affect the Kimberley coast by Wednesday or Thursday.
It currently has wind gusts of up to 120km/h and is tracking in a southern direction.
BOM senior forecaster Luke Huntington said the system might weaken before it crossed the coast.
"It just depends what strength the system is while it is offshore," he said.
"A stronger system is going to take a longer time to weaken. If it is a weaker system, it's going to weaken more rapidly."
Preparations underway
Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Nathan McIvor, who manages the remote community on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome, said preparations had been made.
"You always find there's been something that you've missed but we're as prepared as we possibly can be," he said.
Mr McIvor said loose items had been cleared ahead of the summer months, while water and dry goods had been stocked up.
Nathan McIvor says the community is well prepared for the cyclone. (ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)
He said the Dampier Peninsula had not historically been badly affected by cyclones.
"Normally, there's an umbrella hanging over the Dampier Peninsula. We don't get much," Mr McIvor said.
"I guess the climate is changing a little and we're seeing more heading in our direction. Maybe the umbrella is starting to break down."
Mr McIvor said there were plans in place to keep the community safe.