Cyclone Hayley: Flood warnings issued as 'Category 4' storm approaches Australia

From tropical cyclones to torrential floods, Australia battles a perfect storm of extreme weather events threatening millions across multiple states this week.

Disaster management has issued flood warnings as the western side of the country is about to witness category four tropical Cyclone Hayley that nears north Queensland.

Category four cyclone Hayley is forecast to hit its peak strength in the west on Tuesday December 30, 2025 triggering heavy downpours and potential flash flooding.

According to weather experts,Hayley has been upgraded to a category four system and is moving toward Western Australia's Dampier Peninsula, with wind gusts up to 230 km/h.

Jonathan How from Australian Bureau of Meteorology warned, "We can expect to see those gale force winds picking up through Tuesday morning and then intensifying to destructive wind gusts from Tuesday afternoon and possibly very destructive wind gusts.”

Residents living in caravans or older homes in Beagle Bay, Cockatoo Island and Derby have been urged to move to their nearest evacuation centre or another safer location, as Hayley is forecast to cross the coasts at Tuesday night.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has warned that heavy rainfall, potentially life-threatening flash flooding and widespread riverine flooding is continuing across much of far north Queensland.

Authorities have also urged residents to prepare their emergency kits with enough canned food and water to last a week, along with a first aid kit, medication, cash and a battery-operated radio to listen for warnings.

They further informed that evacuation centres will remain open at the Broome Recreation and Aquatic Centre for those in the warning area.