Cyclone Errol: Wild weather alerts as massive weather front moves closer to coast

Residents in remote communities in Australia’s northwest have been urged to prepare for damaging winds and heavy rain as a tropical cyclone barrels towards them.

Cyclone Errol is tracking southeast towards the Kimberley coast as a category three system, with wind gusts up to 220km/h at the centre.

It was about 435km northwest of Broome on Thursday night, but is expected to weaken throughout Good Friday and cross the coast as a tropical low north of Derby overnight.

Before that, it will brush the tip of the Dampier Peninsula as a category one system, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning destructive wind gusts up to 140km/h might develop between Cockatoo Island to Beagle Bay.

“It will get very, very windy as this tropical cyclone gets close to the coast, and of course, once it crosses the coast and works onto mainland Australia, it won’t just be wind either,” senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.

“Some pretty significant rain will be on the way with the system as it moves its way onshore during either late Friday night or very early Saturday morning.”

Isolated heavy rainfall is also possible between Kuri Bay and Broome and tides may rise above the normal high tide mark.

A cyclone advice has been issued for communities in the region, including those on the Kimberley coastal islands.

Authorities are urging people to get ready for dangerous weather by preparing their homes and securing items, including boats and caravans.

Travellers, visitors, tourists and locals should monitor weather conditions and review their travel within the warning area over the Easter long weekend, a Department of Fire and Emergency Services alert said on Thursday.

Roads and tracks on and around the Dampier Peninsula could become impassable or close with little notice.

Middle Lagoon campground manager Herbie Stewart says flooding could cut off the main road to the area and Aboriginal communities for weeks.

“Every year we get the monsoon rains and it washes the road out ... it is getting worse and worse (with) over half a metre deep puddles,” Mr Stewart said.

He is pleading for the state government to fix and maintain the road into the region.

Errol intensified to a category four system late on Wednesday - the second-highest classification - which could cause structural damage from severe winds, power loss and a high storm surge.

As a category one system - the lowest classification for a cyclone - Errol could damage some trees, caravans and crops, and it may cause watercraft to drag moorings, but minimal impact to buildings is expected.

Northern WA has had two cyclones this season after ex-tropical cyclone Sean reached category three but steered away from the coastline in January while Dianne made landfall on the Kimberley coast as a category two system.