Summary
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hayley was a short lived but intense tropical cyclone that developed north of Broome in late December before crossing the tip of the Dampier Peninsula as a severe tropical cyclone.
A tropical low (08U) developed about 700 kilometres north northeast of Broome on 28 December and moved southwards. The low intensified into a tropical cyclone on 29 December and in a favourable environment it underwent rapid intensification to a Category 3 system later that same day.
Hayley reached a peak intensity of Category 4 with estimated wind gusts up to 230 kilometre per hour near the centre at 0200 WST 30 December, as it turned east towards the Dampier Peninsula. The tropical cyclone continued on an east southeast path and weakened slightly as it approached the coast. It made landfall as a Category 3 system near the communities of Djarindjin and Lombadina at about 1700 WST 30 December. Hayley crossed King Sound and then moved inland north of Derby, weakening to below tropical cyclone strength early on 31 December.
As it crossed the Dampier Peninsula, the cyclone caused mostly minor damage such as water ingress, trees and power lines down and some roof damage. The highest wind gust recorded during the event was 158 km/h at 1813 pm WST 30 December from Lombadina AWS. The highest rainfall totals recorded were 108 mm in the 24 hours to 0900 WST 31 December at Cygnet Bay and 182.2 mm in the 24 hours to 0900 WST 1 January 2026 from Lansdowne as the remnants of Hayley moved over the eastern Kimberley. The Lansdowne total set a new January highest daily rainfall record for the station.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hayley was the fourth tropical cyclone of the 2025/26 season.
*Note: A comprehensive report will be issued for this event upon completion of a post event reanalysis. All information relating to intensity and track is preliminary information and subject to change following post analysis.
Track and intensity (Time in AWST)
