Source: Bureau of Meteorology

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 2

Issued at 8:33 pm WST on Thursday 5 February 2026
Headline:

Tropical Low 21U is expected to develop off the north Pilbara coast.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone

None.
Watch Zone

Onslow to De Grey, including Karratha, Port Hedland and Barrow Island.
Cancelled Zone

None.
Details of Tropical Low 21U at 8:00 pm AWST:

Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 30 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 85 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 65 kilometres of 17.8 degrees South 123.8 degrees East, estimated to be 165 kilometres east of Broome and 610 kilometres east northeast of Port Hedland.

Movement: west at 25 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Low 21U is located over the western Pilbara and is moving to the west. It is expected to move offshore of the Kimberley coast during Friday. Once offshore, 21U is expected to develop over waters off the Pilbara coast during the weekend, reaching category 1 strength during Saturday.

Over the weekend, 21U is forecast to move in a general west southwest direction, remaining parallel to the Pilbara coast. From later Sunday or Monday, 21U is expected to begin weakening as it takes a more southerly track towards the far west Pilbara coast or northern Gascoyne coast.
Hazards:

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are possible for coastal parts between De Grey and Onslow during Saturday and early Sunday.

Widespread moderate to locally HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible from late Friday for the Pilbara coast.

Tides between Exmouth and Wickham are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark on Saturday and Sunday and LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas.
Recommended Action:

Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app.

Current Tropical Cyclones