Tropical Cyclone Anika has made landfall in Western Australia, bringing winds gusts of up to 120km/h as it hit the north Kimberley coast.
Residents in and around Kalumburu were told late on Saturday night that they had to go to shelter immediately.
People living between Wyndham and the Northern Territory border were urged to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise emergency plans, including a first aid kit, portable radio, food and water.
Those in the North Kimberley and the West Kimberley were advised to stay up to date with weather warnings and forecasts.
The category one system was moving southwest at 16km/h and expected to weaken slowly during Sunday as it tracks west across the Kimberley into Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology said Anika was likely to move offshore from the coast near Kuri Bay on Tuesday and then strengthen again off the WA coast.