**Ace Breaking News** 
Tropical Cyclone Dianne has landed north of Derby, arriving as a Category One system. Overnight, the cyclone produced wind gusts ranging from 75 km/h to 100 km/h.

What’s next?

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is urging central Kimberley communities to prepare for isolation.

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 communities at 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.

Derby is expected to receive heavy rainfall as Tropical Cyclone Dianne will hit the coast in the early hours of Saturday. (ABC Kimberley: Anthony Pancia)normal

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.”

Derby residents Bryce and Kaye Few went to the SES unit on Friday afternoon to collect sandbags in preparation for cyclone Dianne. (ABC Kimberley: Anthony Pancia)normal

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.”

Sand was made available at the Derby SES depot on Friday. (Supplied: Shire of Derby-West Kimberley)normal

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.

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