Cyclone Errol predicted to hit the WA coastline over the Easter weekend

Cyclone Errol has been upgraded to a Category 4 system after making an abrupt change of direction towards the north of the West Australian coast on Thursday morning.

Cyclone Errol, which formed on Tuesday night, is predicted to hit the Kimberley coast at the beginning of the long weekend, bringing destructive wind gusts and heavy rain.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning at 2am AWST on Thursday that predicted the cyclone, currently 500km northwest of Broome, would move towards the west Kimberley coast and impact Kuri Bay, Cockatoo Island, Cape Leveque and Beagle Bay.

Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the cyclone was tracking westward along the coastline, but was upgraded to a Category 4 system after it made a “U-turn” towards land.

“Errol saw strong development yesterday evening and overnight, increasing from a Category 2 tropical cyclone on Wednesday afternoon to a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone by late Wednesday evening,” Mr Hines said.

“Errol’s done almost a complete U-turn overnight and is nearly doubling back on the path it’s followed in recent days.

“So through the course of the day on Thursday, it’s forecast to move slowly south-eastwards staying as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone throughout the day.”

Mr Hines said Errol was likely to weaken on Friday but was still expected to bring strong or damaging winds, heavy rain, and thunderstorms through to Saturday.

“The current track map shows Errol’s most likely arrival location somewhere around the northern tip of the Dampier Peninsula early on Saturday morning, potentially as a Category 1 tropical cyclone at that stage,” he said.

According to the Bureau, wind gusts could extend southward from Beagle Bay to Broome if the track shifts slightly south of its current forecast.

Destructive gusts of up to 130km/h may develop between Cockatoo Island and Beagle Bay on Friday afternoon, but only if Errol moves faster than forecast.

Isolated heavy rainfall is also expected between Kuri Bay and Broome on Friday and could persist into Saturday morning as Errol moves closer to and crosses the west Kimberley coast.

“Communities throughout northern Western Australia should stay up to date with this one, including the forecast track and the warning for Tropical Cyclone Errol,” Mr Hines said.

“There certainly still could be some updates or changes around the expected time or arrival location.”

This is the 11th tropical cyclone in the Australian region so far this season, making this the most active tropical cyclone season in the area in six years.

It comes as communities across New South Wales and Queensland continue to deal with the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which destroyed thousands of homes and left thousands without power for several days.