Communities told to seek shelter as red alert issued for areas south of Broome

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Tropical Cyclone Kelvin crossed the Western Australian coast on Sunday morning near Anna Plains station, about 250km south of Broome, as a category 2 storm.

Cattle producer David Stoate said the property, which includes 20,000 cattle, copped a “belting” with roaring wind, roofs knocked off, windows smashed and trees uprooted. He estimated the damage to be about $150,000.

Elsewhere in the region, lives and homes remained in danger on Sunday afternoon, with a red alert in place for people between the Bidyadanga Aboriginal community and Sandfire in the Kimberley region.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services warned.

People were warned to remain inside and shelter in the strongest part of their homes or at the evacuation centre, away from doors and windows, and to keep emergency kits with them.

A yellow alert was in place for people between Broome and Bidyadanga, but not including Broome, and between Sandfire and Wallal, but not including Sandfire.

“There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a cyclone is approaching the area,” DFES warned.

The Bureau of Meteorology said destructive winds, with gusts to 150km/h, were likely near the centre of the system until late in the afternoon, but the cyclone would gradually weaken as it continued to move inland on Monday.

Damaging winds of 100km/h were predicted to persist to the east of the system once it weakened below tropical cyclone intensity.

Very heavy rainfall was likely to continue over the far west Kimberley and far east Pilbara during Sunday.

Rainfall had been so heavy in Broome that the yearly total was now at 1,467mm, which was only 29.6mm less than the record 1496.6mm in 2000.

Meanwhile, the all clear was given for people between Wallal Downs and Pardoo. Although the threat had passed, people were warned to take care to avoid hazards.

Some roads were closed in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions, and people were warned of flooding danger.

The Water Corporation advised people not to swim or fish in Roebuck Bay or Dampier Creek in Broome as a precaution following significant rainfall.