Cyclone Luana: Tropical Cyclone hits Kimberley coast as residents urged to stay indoors

Tropical Cylone Luana has hit the Kimberley coast but caused no devastation so far, emergency services said.

Residents were urged to shelter indoors after the cyclone made landfall as a category two system in the afternoon.

A police officer in Derby said it was “pretty windy up but nothing too crazy.” Officers remained on alert, but “weren’t overly concerned at this stage”.

Photos showed winds bending trees and heavy rainfall soaking Broome as the system made landfall between Beagle Bay and Cape Leveque about 2pm.

Businesses in Derby were closed as residents waited out the storm.

Luka Kraljevick, general manager at his family run pizza restaurant, Jila Gallery Café said staff had packed up their outdoor display area and locked the chairs inside.

Mr Kraljevick said the town had endured “many windstorms lately” with the worst part being the cleanup.

“Normally this weather goes around us in Derby or drops off into the ocean,” he said.

“People around town say roofs will be blown off tonight. I’m not sure how it will go.”

A Storm Surge Watch and Act was in place for Derby.

“Tropical Cyclone Luana is expected to result in significant storm surge,” a DFES alert said. “There is a risk that properties in Derby townsite could become inundated.”

The Bureau of Meteorology said stronger winds and rainfall would mostly occur north of Broome through to Kuri Bay before extending south this morning.

Wind gusts near the centre of the cyclone were projected to reach 130km/h.

The Department of Emergency Services said no calls for State Emergency Services assistance had been made.

An emergency cyclone warning had been in place for Coulomb Point nature reserve through to Cape Leveque as the system moved east south east at 12km/h.

“There is a threat to lives and homes,” the warning said. “You are in danger and need to act immediately.”

Flood warnings were spread across the Kimberley with daily rainfall totals of 220mm possible, bringing a risk of flash flooding and roads being closed without warning.

Authorities opened evacuation centres at Derby Civic Centre and at Broome Recreation and Aquatic Centre.