Tropical Cyclone Ellie has crossed the Northern Territory coastline, just a few hours after it was officially declared a cyclone by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
The cyclone crossed the coast at 11pm local time, in a sparsely populated area south-west of the Daly River Mouth where it originally formed, according to the BOM.
The latest forecast issued by the BOM at 7am predicted the system would weaken below tropical cyclone strength on Friday morning.
Gales with gusts up to 110kph are currently occurring from Daly River Mouth to Wadeye, including the inland communities of Peppimenarti and Bradshaw, the BOM said.
Heavy rain is falling over the Daly district and is likely to spread to the Gregory and east Kimberley districts on Friday, the BOM said.
Police, Fire and Emergency Services Incident Controller Kylie Anderson earlier said people in Wadeye and surrounding areas should "take action to complete preparations", and that advice remained current on the BOM website.
"Check your household plan and listen for the next advice," she said.
“Emergency services are keeping a close eye on the possible tracks of this storm and our local emergency management teams have activated their plans and are making the necessary preparations to see their communities safely through this event.
“Heavy rains and gales are expected. Please use all safety precautions and do not attempt to cross any flooded roads or crossings. If it’s flooded, forget it.”
The current cyclone warning zone covers the WA/NT border to Dundee Beach, including Wadeye, the Daly River (Nauiyu) and Peppimenarti.
Dundee Beach resident Eleanor Burrows told ABC Radio's AM program the winds picked up after 9pm last night, adding she had taken steps to clean up around her home in preparation for Ellie's arrival.
"As far as we know, nothing is going to blow down or anything like that. Our buildings are fairly solid so we're sitting fairly good," she said.
"It's been raining off and on, but it's been a good night."
NT Emergency Services deputy director Robert Evans said earlier on Thursday that the predicted strength of the cyclone did not warrant evacuations.
"The significant increased intensity that would be required for us to even consider evacuation, the likelihood of that just isn't there at the moment," he said.
"We would need a significant increase, nearly to a category four cyclone, before we consider evacuating communities."
The community has experienced significant violence and unrest over the last year, which has left almost 100 homes destroyed and displaced more than 500 residents.
Mr Evans said he was confident there were still safe places in the community where residents could shelter if needed.
"There are a number of government buildings … down there that can take up to 1,000 people," he said.
People in Wadeye and surrounding areas are being told to check their household plan and listen for the next advice.
People in the WA communities of Wyndham and Kununurra and between Wyndham and the NT border are being told that wind and storm surge dangers have passed, but the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services says they should still take care to avoid the dangers caused by damage.
