In early 2023 the western Kimberley region experienced a 1 in 100-year flood event. Footage and photos of the collapse of the Fitzroy Bridge were circulated, and stories of locals being evacuated from the town were reported.
Map locating Willare and Fitzroy Crossing, Google maps
The area heavily affected concerned the section of the Great Northern Highway between Willare and Fitzroy Crossing. Prior to this flood event the river’s record peak was 13.95 metres in 2002, but in 2023 this record was surpassed with the Fitzroy River peaking at a height of 15.8 metres at Fitzroy Crossing.
Our thoughts are very much with those who have suffered due to the floods and we sincerely hope support arrives quickly so supplies are delivered and infrastructure is fixed as soon as possible.
Here, we provide more detail and understanding regarding this flood and previous floods in the Kimberley region.
The Kimberley region experiences two seasons: the wet and the dry. The wet season is expected from December through until March, possibly April. This is when significant rainfall is expected to descend over the tropical north; revitalising the land, bringing colour and flooding the picturesque waterfalls ready for the dry season.
The dry season typically starts mid to late April and ends in October when the hot and humid ‘build up’ sets in. The dry season is the time of year to visit the Kimberley and to see it at its very best. Visitors can complete the Gibb River Road which is typically closed in the wet season due to floods.
It’s the Great Northern Highway that allows people to travel through the Kimberley region in the wet season but it’s not immune to flooding. As witnessed in 2023, ex-tropical cyclone Ellie dumped a huge amount of water over the western Kimberley region over a three-week period. The Bureau of Meteorology explained no significant rainfall records were broken and a tropical low over the area is not uncommon, it was the pace of weather system; it hovered over the Fitzroy catchment area for longer than normal meaning the area received an exponential amount of rainfall.
Great Northern Highway flooding, January 2023 Image courtesy of ABC Kimberley
Record floods have occurred on the Fitzroy River in 1983, 1986, 2002, 2011 and 2023. Since the turn of the century the Kimberley region has seen three significant floods; February 2002, March 2011 and January 2023. This would suggest approximately every ten years the Kimberley region experiences a exceptional flood event.
Looking further back into the history of the Fitzroy River, there is evidence that flood events were also occurring thousands of years ago. The Fitzroy River once flowed out to the ocean in Broome, with the mouth of the river being Roebuck bay. After a huge flood event the river is believed to have changed direction and now flows out to its current location in Derby at the King Sound. This is a distance over 160 kilometers away from where it originally flowed.
The last devastating flood since January 2023 was in March 2011 when western Australia’s central and eastern Kimberley region experienced extremely heavy rainfall due to an active monsoon. The flood damaged infrastructure across the Fitzroy, Ord and Pentecost River catchments areas. The town of Warnum saw around 500 people evacuated as houses were destroyed by floodwater. As with the 2023 Fitzroy floods, the WA government as well as other businesses and authorities were quick to donate funds and commit to rebuilding infrastructure.
Kimberley Off-Road Adventure Tours guide - Adam Bowen - was a Kimberley tour guide at the time of the 2011 flood event.
“I’ll never forget my first Kimberley tour in April 2011 at Easter time. There was so much water still around after the wet season and the waterfalls which are normally dry were flowing beautifully.”
Adam Bowen - Director of Kimberley Off-Road Adventure Tours
For anyone concerned about whether to travel the Kimberley in 2023; the Kimberley region has previously experienced heavy rainfall much closer to the start of the dry season and it hasn’t prevented tours operating in April and May. The rain brings flowing waterfalls and beautiful scenery making it a great time to visit the Kimberley, WA.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Adam or Lucy : info@kimberleyoffroadtours.com / 0447 740 880