Residents brace for heavy rain as Luana heads inland
Tropical Cyclone Luana is moving southward after making landfall in WA's north coast. -AAP Image
Tropical Cyclone Luana is running out of steam after making landfall, but West Australian residents in its path face damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall as the system tracks inland.
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The system, expected to be downgraded to a tropical low on Sunday morning, is packing winds gusts of up to 95km/h and heavy rain across the northwest Kimberley district, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
The area between Broome and Cockatoo Island, including Derby, was expected to bear the brunt of the cyclone as it tracked southeast.
"Tides will be higher than normal between Beagle Bay and Kuri Bay and large waves may produce minor flooding of low-lying coastal areas," the bureau said.
"Wind and rain impacts are continuing near the system centre, predominantly on the southern side of the system."
A cyclone watch and act alert was previously issued for an area from Coulomb Point Nature Reserve to Cape Leveque, both on the Dampier Peninsula, with residents and visitors told to shelter indoors.
Bureau forecaster Jonathan How said heavy rain leading to flash flooding was possible.
"This may cause roads to become flooded and communities to be isolated," he said.
