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Cyclone Dianne delivers damaging gusts to WA Kimberley

Tropical Cyclone Dianne has made landfall during the early hours of Saturday morning along Western Australia's Kimberley coast, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rain.  

The cyclone crossed near Cockatoo Island, just north of Derby, as a Category 1 system. The strongest wind gust of 115km/h was recorded at Koolan Island around 2:30am local time. Winds continued to gust close to 100km/h for a couple of hours before gradually easing as the system spread further inland. 

Tropical Cyclone Dianne's formation can be attributed to several meteorological factors that are conducive to cyclone development.​ 

• Warm Ocean Temperatures: A critical factor for the genesis of tropical cyclones is sea surface temperatures of at least 26.5°C. This warmth provides the necessary heat and moisture to fuel the cyclone's development. ​Currently, ocean temperatures to the north of the Kimberley are sitting around 29 or 30°C. 

• Active Monsoon Trough: The presence of an active monsoon trough can enhance the formation of tropical lows, which may intensify into cyclones under favourable conditions.  

• In addition, this heightened activity is partly due to a monsoon surge moving from Indonesia into Australia's northern waters with a favourable phase of the Madden Julian Oscillation. 

As Dianne moves inland, it's expected to weaken but will still deliver significant rainfall to the region with 24-hour rainfall totals of between 50 and 250mm likely on Saturday and Sunday for central northeast WA.  This will lead to flash flooding and potential isolation of some communities. ​In addition to the heavy rain, damaging winds are forecast with gusts up to 100km/h for inland parts of northeast WA today and 60 to 90km/h on Sunday and Monday. 

The remnants of Dianne will live on as the moisture and instability associated with the system spread across the NT and eventually into Qld.  Heavy rain and thunderstorm activity is likely across central and eastern Qld mid-week potentially adding 80 to 100mm to the already flooding woes of communities across the State.  

To stay up to date with all the latest on the severe weather in the coming days check out www.weatherzone.com