The Kimberley region in Western Australia is on high alert as Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina, a powerful category four system, tracks closer to the coast, prompting urgent warnings for residents to prepare for dangerous conditions.
Immediate Threat to Lives and Homes
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has issued a Watch and Act alert for communities in the Cambridge Gulf and King George River areas. As of 3pm on Sunday, 23 November 2025, the cyclone was located approximately 125 kilometres offshore and moving in a southwesterly direction.
Authorities have delivered a stark warning, stating there is a possible threat to lives and homes. Residents in the path of the cyclone are being instructed to take immediate action to get ready to shelter. The DFES emphasised that regardless of past experience, a severe cyclone can be an overwhelming event, urging families to ensure they are both physically and mentally prepared.
Preparing for Destructive Winds and Heavy Rain
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has forecast that destructive winds and heavy rainfall could begin battering coastal parts of the northeast Kimberley from Monday morning. The cyclone watch area extends as far east as Kalumburu in Western Australia.
Residents are being urged to undertake crucial preparations without delay. The community advice includes: securing all loose items around properties, preparing an emergency kit, moving vehicles under cover, and fastening cyclone shutters or boarding up exposed windows. The safety of pets and animals is also a priority.
Furthermore, people are strongly advised not to go out on the water and to charge their mobile phones in anticipation of potential power outages. The BOM has also warned that the heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding along the northeast Kimberley coast on Monday.
Forecast Track and Expected Weakening
According to the latest update from the Bureau of Meteorology, Cyclone Fina is forecast to remain a severe tropical cyclone overnight on Sunday as it moves southwest through the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf.
The system is then expected to start weakening quickly during Monday as it takes a track to the west-northwest near the northeast Kimberley coast. The BOM predicts the cyclone could drop below cyclone strength by Tuesday morning, offering some relief to the region if the forecast holds.
