As night falls, residents of Kimberley brace themselves for the wild weather unleashed by Tropical Cyclone Luana. The cyclone made its presence known when it crossed the coast north of Broome around 2 p.m. [AWST], bringing with it a mix of intense winds and heavy rains.
Upon making landfall at the Dampier Peninsula, Luana was classified as a Category 2 system. This status comes with the threat of a significant storm surge, raising concerns for those in its path.
In the aftermath, Lombadina, situated north of Broome, has already experienced the cyclone’s ferocity, with wind gusts reaching up to 106 km/h. The area has also been drenched in over 100 millimetres of rain since the stroke of midnight.
By tonight, the cyclone is expected to position itself to the west of Derby. This timing coincides with extremely high tides, potentially reaching 11 meters, prompting residents to remain vigilant.
Derby resident Chris shared with 9News the proactive measures being taken by emergency services, saying, “The SES has been really good about putting out sandbags for people and informing people about what might happen if you live a bit closer to the marsh.”
As Luana continues its inland trajectory over the next 48 hours, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings of possible heavy rainfall, estimating between 100 to 200 millimetres per day. Such forecasts underscore the importance of preparedness and caution for those in the region.
Tropical Cyclone Luana is expected to weaken to a Category 1 storm overnight but flood warnings are still in place for north and west Kimberley rivers, with residents advised to keep an eye on the warnings and have their cyclone kits ready.
