Australia Weather News
Derby is expected to experience wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour as part of Cyclone Dianne. (ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)
Tropical Cyclone Dianne has crossed the West Australian coast, near Cockatoo Island just north of the town of Derby, and will weaken rapidly as it moves inland this morning.
The cyclone made landfall as a category one system overnight, with wind gusts between 75km to 100km per hour across a 223km stretch of WA's far north between Kuri Bay and Derby.
Tropical Cyclone Dianne reached category one strength shortly before 6pm on Friday.
It is the eighth tropical cyclone to develop off WA so far this season.
The Bureau of Meteorology said winds up to 75 kilometres per hour were lashing island communitiesat the time of its formation.
Damaging wind gusts reaching up to 100 kilometres per hour are likely to develop in coastal areas, while gale-force winds could reach Derby on Saturday.
Heavy rainfall is forecast between Derby and Fitzroy Crossing as the cyclone moves inland and rapidly weakens to a tropical low.
"We're expecting to see rainfall storm totals of anywhere from about 75 to 150 millimetres," said BOM forecaster Bob Tarr.
"[Luckily] the Fitzroy River is pretty low right now ... and we're not expecting any riverine flooding in the Fitzroy Valley."
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is nevertheless urging communities in the central Kimberley to prepare for isolation, with some flash flooding possible.
Residents prepare
Derby residents spent Friday afternoon making final preparations as the weather system moves closer.
Kaye Few has lived in the remote town for 25 years but told the ABC she had never been through a cyclone before.
"We have a lot of cyclone warnings up here in Derby," she said.
"We can get complacent when you've been here for years and years and years and nothing happens.
"But this one … just has a different feel."
Nurse Liya Thomas stopped by the supermarket to pick up some supplies with her family.
Ms Thomas was confident the community was ready should conditions get worse.
"I'm preparing myself [and] my family but, in reality, I don't know how it is going to be.
"It's not a matter of fear, we can overcome anything."
The State Emergency Service depot in Derby opened on Friday to provide sand and sandbags to residents.
Work crews and rangers from the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley were also out helping prepare homes and tidy yards.
ABC