Residents of Broome and Derby in Western Australia's Kimberley region have been advised to prepare for dangerous weather after a tropical cyclone developed off the state's northern coastline overnight on Monday.
Tropical Cyclone Hayley, currently a category one system, is forecast to track south towards the coast before turning south east on Monday afternoon, before moving easterly throughout Tuesday and Wednesday.
A watch zone has been put in place for the area between Broome and Cockatoo Island, north east of the Dampier Peninsula, and including the town of Derby.
As of around 6am local time, the system sat 535 kilometres northwest of Broome, and is moving south at 8km per hour.
Atmospheric conditions are expected to become unfavourable for the Cyclone to develop further, and the system may weaken as it moves closer to the coast on Tuesday evening or Wednesday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued on Monday morning.
On Tuesday afternoon and evening 100km winds are possible over the Dampier Peninsula and east to Cockatoo Island, per the BOM, with destructive gusts up to 140km possible across the coastal fringe from north of Broome to Cape Leveque late Tuesday.
"Gales may develop over the watch area as early as Tuesday morning if the system moves faster than forecast," the BOM advised on Monday.
Heavy rainfall is possible, with potential flash flooding across the watch zone from Tuesday.
Tropical #CycloneHayley has developed and is forecast to approach the west Kimberley coast of #WesternAustralia during Tuesday.
Current: 2:56 am AWST on Monday 29 December 2025
Latest track map: https://t.co/7MUFKbQx4I pic.twitter.com/0fVyfJrz8o
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) December 28, 2025
The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services has alerted local residents to begin preparations for dangerous weather and keep themselves informed.
DFES advises to review or put in place household preparations plans, check emergency kits and radios, familiarise with cyclone warning steps and monitor the Emergency WA website.
Parts of the Kimberley further east were impacted by the final days of Tropical Cyclone Fina after the system caused widespread damage in Darwin and surrounding areas late last month.
