Tropical Cyclone Laurence weakens
Tropical Cyclone Laurence, which made landfall north of Derby, West Kimberley
Tropical Cyclone Laurence has weakened on its track inland in north-west Australia.
The storm formed last week in the Timor Sea and has been moving along the coastline west of Darwin, bringing heavy rains and destructive winds across the North Kimberley region.
On Wednesday, Laurence became a category 5 storm, the strongest on the scale with wind gusts of up to 177mph (285km/h). It made landfall north of the city of Derby in West Kimberley and is tracking on a south-westerly path inland.
It has weakened considerably to a category 2 storm with sustained wind speeds of 75mph (92km/h). However, alerts remain in place for much of the region where forecasters expect daily rainfall totals to reach 100 millimetres (4 inches). Some areas may receive as much as 300mm (12in).
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has warned that when Laurence reaches the western coast, it may reform and return as it tracks over warm seas.
Laurence is the first major event of the November to April Tropical Cyclone season which typically sees five storms.
