Torrential rain, wild winds in WA's north as Cyclone Joyce hits

Tropical Cyclone Joyce has shown her fury with torrential rain and wild winds hitting the north of Western Australia.

While the cyclone hit the coast as a category one - not the category three that was originally predicted - it still packed a powerful punch.

Towns along the coast, both in the Kimberley and Pilbara, were on high alert.

While the wind danger has passed, heavy rain is forecast for the next 48 hours in the region.

Authorities and residents held their breath as the cyclone made land at Wallal Downs, packing 100 km/hr winds.

It gave the Kimberley a thorough drenching, with Mandora copping 186mm of rain in the gauge, West Roebuck recording 97.4mm, and Broome recording 76mm at the airport.

Broome got lucky - it didn't take a direct hit, but it was still too unsafe for planes, and flights between Perth and Broome were cancelled.

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The Great Northern Highway was closed between Port Hedland and Broome but reopened on Friday afternoon.

Cyclone Joyce is still on the move, and the major threat now is of flooding in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne.

But authorities can't say for sure where the flooding will be because Joyce's path is so unpredictable.

Road closure details are on the Department of Fire and Emergency Service website.