KIMBERLEY Ports Authority (KPA) has declared all its ports ‘safe’ as Tropical Cyclone Fina continued to downgrade.
The system has since downgraded to category one as it continued to make its way inland to the Northeast Kimberley.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) indicated wind speeds in the region were 10 knots or less as of 9am in the West (midday AEDST).
KPA harbour master Rohan Wadwa said management was confident the dangers were passed.
“We have cancelled the Cyclone Watch warnings for Yampi and Derby,” he said.
“For Wyndham, harbour tugs and the service boats have resumed operations, and inbound vessels will be permitted from later today (Tuesday).”
Cyclone Fina struck the northern coast of the Northern Territory on Saturday, which resulted in the closure of Darwin Port for two-and-a-half days.
It then upgraded to category four as it tracked south to Western Australia’s Kimberley, a region known for the export of mineral sands, iron ore and cattle.
KPA had also prepared early with for the cyclone’s onset, having cleared the Port of Wyndham late Friday last week.
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), this summer is expected to have a near to slightly above-average number of tropical cyclones, but with a higher proportion of severe (Category 3 or higher) storms.
According to the BOM, conditions are favourable for intensified systems, potentially with rapid intensification and higher rainfall.
This is said to be due to factors like warm sea surface temperatures, particularly in the Coral Sea, and some lingering La Nina-like conditions, although the outlook for La Niña is said to be for it to return to neutral in mid-to-late summer.