Cyclone prompts flood warning for north WA

Tropical Cyclone Hilda which has lashed the north coast of Western Australia, bringing strong winds and thunderstorms, has been downgraded.

FILE: The category one system formed on the coast just to the north of Broome on Wednesday night.

FILE: The category one system formed on the coast just to the north of Broome on Wednesday night. Source: Getty Images

A tropical cyclone lashing Western Australia's northern coast has weakened, but it is still expected to bring damaging strong winds and possible flash flooding.

The category-one cyclone Hilda was downgraded to a tropical low on Thursday and forecasters say the danger has now passed for people between the Wallal and Bidyadanga areas.

Gales are no longer expected, but heavy rain and squally thunderstorms bringing damaging winds gusting up to 100 km/h are possible.

The strongest winds are forecast over the far eastern Pilbara and northwest Interior for the rest of Thursday and Friday morning, as the system moves south.

It may cause damage to homes and properties and the Bureau of Meteorology also predicts heavy rain may cause flash flooding over the warning area.

Areas that may be affected include Parnngurr and Telfer.

Conditions are expected to ease from the north on Friday.

The cyclone formed on the coast just north of Broome on Wednesday night before tracking south-southwest.

Heavy rain has pelted the west Kimberley region since Tuesday and the system has produced gusts of up to 120 km/h.

Both Bidyadanga and the Kimberley's Eco Beach Resort have suffered structural and vegetation damage but no injuries have been reported.


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