WA · Tropical cyclones
WA cyclones: current warnings and history
The Pilbara coast between Broome and Exmouth is the most cyclone-prone stretch of the Australian coastline. This page lists any current Bureau warnings for WA and the cyclones recorded near the coastal towns since the 1970s.
Current tropical cyclone warnings: Western Australia
The Bureau of Meteorology has no tropical cyclone warnings current for Western Australia. Bureau warnings page →
Warning titles and issue times from the Bureau of Meteorology's public warnings feed, © Commonwealth of Australia (terms), shown with links only: read each warning on the Bureau's site. Checked every 10 minutes; last received . Atmosphr is not affiliated with the Bureau.
How often cyclones affect the WA coast
From 1972-73 to 2025-26, 60 named tropical cyclones passed within 100 km of Kununurra, Broome, Port Hedland, Karratha, Onslow, Exmouth, Carnarvon or Geraldton at cyclone strength: about 1.1 a season on average, with none at all in 12 of those seasons.
Strongest cyclones near WA towns
| Cyclone | Season | Nearest listed town | Distance | Category there | Peak category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean | 1979-80 | Port Hedland | 14 km | 5 | 5 |
| Vance | 1998-99 | Exmouth | 18 km | 5 | 5 |
| Rosita | 1999-00 | Broome | 37 km | 5 | 5 |
| Orson | 1988-89 | Karratha | 52 km | 5 | 5 |
| Trixie | 1974-75 | Karratha | 61 km | 5 | 5 |
| Bobby | 1994-95 | Onslow | 21 km | 4 | 4 |
| Chloe | 1983-84 | Karratha | 24 km | 4 | 4 |
| Christine | 2013-14 | Karratha | 44 km | 4 | 4 |
| Zelia | 2024-25 | Port Hedland | 55 km | 4 | 5 |
| Hazel | 1978-79 | Carnarvon | 57 km | 4 | 4 |
| Veronica | 2018-19 | Port Hedland | 92 km | 4 | 5 |
| Kirsty | 1995-96 | Port Hedland | 96 km | 4 | 4 |
Most recent cyclones near WA towns
| Cyclone | Season | Nearest listed town | Distance | Category there | Peak category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell | 2025-26 | Karratha | 83 km | 3 | 3 |
| Zelia | 2024-25 | Port Hedland | 55 km | 4 | 5 |
| Olga | 2023-24 | Onslow | 80 km | 1 | 5 |
| Seroja | 2020-21 | Geraldton | 31 km | 3 | 3 |
| Blake | 2019-20 | Broome | 31 km | 1 | 1 |
| Damien | 2019-20 | Karratha | 12 km | 3 | 3 |
| Veronica | 2018-19 | Port Hedland | 92 km | 4 | 5 |
| Hilda | 2017-18 | Broome | 10 km | 2 | 2 |
| Kelvin | 2017-18 | Broome | 52 km | 1 | 3 |
| Olwyn | 2014-15 | Carnarvon | 26 km | 3 | 3 |
From the NOAA International Best Track Archive (IBTrACS v04r01), using the Bureau of Meteorology's best-track 10-minute winds, for seasons 1972-73 to 2025-26. A storm is listed if it passed within 100 km of one of the listed towns while at tropical-cyclone strength; the category is its strength at that closest point, which may differ from its strength when it crossed the coast. Distances are to the storm centre.
The cyclone season
The Western Australian cyclone season officially runs from 1 November to 30 April, with most cyclones forming from December to April. Late-season storms can track much further south: Seroja reached Kalbarri and the Geraldton region in April 2021. See the 2026-27 season page for the year ahead.
Cyclone categories and typical gusts
The Bureau ranks cyclones from Category 1 (weakest) to Category 5 (strongest), based on maximum mean wind speed. The category describes wind only: it does not show how much rain, flooding or storm surge a cyclone will bring.
| Category | Maximum mean wind | Typical strongest gust |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 63 to 88 km/h | Up to 125 km/h |
| 2 | 89 to 117 km/h | 125 to 164 km/h |
| 3 (severe) | 118 to 159 km/h | 165 to 224 km/h |
| 4 (severe) | 160 to 199 km/h | 225 to 279 km/h |
| 5 (severe) | More than 200 km/h | More than 279 km/h |
Prepare and get official warnings
Sources
Current warnings: Bureau of Meteorology public warnings feed, titles and links only. History: NOAA IBTrACS (public domain), processed by Atmosphr; see the note under the tables. Category scale: Bureau of Meteorology.