Australia Weather News

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle is set to re-form off the northern West Australian coast, with the weather system affecting coastal Kimberley communities over the next 24 hours.

While heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts are expected across the Kimberley coast, a more severe impact is being projected for further south later in the week.

The latest Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) tracking map shows Cyclone Narelle intensifying in the Indian Ocean in coming days to a category four system by Friday morning.

There is a chance the cyclone will then re-cross the WA coast, either in the Gascoyne or Midwest regions, over the weekend.

Cyclone Narelle formed last week in the Coral Sea, off Australia's east coast, and the weather system has since travelled over the northern part of the country, causing flooding along its path.

Kimberley warning zone

A warning zone has been established between Kuri Bay, north of Derby, to the community of Beagle Bay on the Dampier Peninsula.

BOM has also issued a watch zone for the Pilbara region, taking in the coastal towns of Exmouth, Onslow, Karratha and Port Hedland.

WA's northernmost community, Kalumburu, received 146.2mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am today.

Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Kim Holm said rainfall had led to some flooding on the outskirts of the town, but no houses had been damaged.

"We are just waiting to see what water comes from the catchment as to whether we will get any additional flooding, but at this moment the community is nice and dry," she said.

She said residents were well prepared because this was the third flooding event in recent months.

West Kimberley prepares

Ardyaloon community chief executive John Reudavey said the clean-up from recent tropical cyclones Luana and Hayley was still ongoing.

"With Narelle, we're expecting the worst and hopefully not going to get the worst, but it all comes down to how the winds come through," he said.

Mr Reudavey said rain had been "bucketing down" last night and he had been in regular contact with emergency services to prepare.

"We've been ensuring that everyone's safe, making sure that everything's all tied down," he said.

Beagle Bay community chief executive Henry Augustine said preparations were well underway.

"Dark clouds are rolling in and the wind's just slowly picking up," he said.

"When it comes closer, it's sort of a nervousness that comes, then reality sinks in."

A BOM spokesperson said Cyclone Narelle's path had been the first time in over a decade a cyclone had crossed from the east coast to the west.

They also said this wet season had resulted in a higher-than-average number of cyclones making landfall.