North Kimberley Coastal Waters Forecast: WA-NT Border to Kuri Bay

View the current warnings for Western Australia

Forecast issued at 7:01 pm WST on Friday 23 January 2026.

Weather Situation

Tropical Low 16U lies to the northwest of the Kimberley coast, and is expected to make landfall as a tropical cyclone on Saturday.

Tropical System Location

At 2:00 pm WST a Tropical Low was located about 225 nautical miles north northwest of Broome and 245 nautical miles northwest of Derby. Centre located near 14.6S 120.5E. Recent movement has been towards the southeast at 13 knots.

Forecast for Friday until midnight

Winds
North to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 25 knots west of Kalumburu in the late evening.
Seas
Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres west of Kalumburu.
Swell
West to northwesterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres west of Kalumburu.
Weather
Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Saturday 24 January

Gale Warning for Saturday for North Kimberley Coast

Winds
West of Kalumburu: winds above 34 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Low. Elsewhere north to northwesterly 15 to 20 knots.
Waves
West of Kalumburu: Seas and swell exceeding 4m. Elsewhere: Seas Around 1 metre. Swells West to northwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Sunday 25 January

Winds
Northwesterly 20 to 30 knots decreasing to 15 to 25 knots in the early afternoon.
Seas
2 to 3 metres.
Swell
West to northwesterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres.
Weather
Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. A thunderstorm likely.

Monday 26 January

Winds
Northwesterly 15 to 25 knots.
Seas
1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres west of Kalumburu.
Swell
Westerly 1.5 to 2 metres.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Please be awareWind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than the forecast, and stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height.

Nearby Coastal Waters

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The next routine forecast will be issued at 1:01 am WST Saturday.

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