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Broome residents relish in wettest day in four years as more heavy rains forecast across the Kimberley

Tom ZaunmayrBroome Advertiser
Local Broome Children have taken to playing in the flooded parks. Supplied / Renae Boyd
Camera IconLocal Broome Children have taken to playing in the flooded parks. Supplied / Renae Boyd Credit: Supplied / Renae Boyd

Broome residents have endured the town’s wettest day in four years and there’s plenty more forecast as an inland monsoon trough makes its way west across the Kimberley.

More than 230mm of rain fell in town in the 24 hours to 7am Monday, the most in one day since February 2018.

That rain led to flooding across town and forced the closure of the newly-revamped Short Street in Chinatown, where the water level was enough to almost cover the tyres of four wheel drives cruising down the road before it was closed.

Fitzroy Crossing also copped heavy rain, with more than 125mm falling overnight.

The Fitzroy River has reached 10.7m at the bridge and with plenty more rain on the way is expected to keep rising through the week.

That rain has led to the closure of the Great Northern Highway between Fitzroy and Halls Creek, and authorities have warned this could remain in place for the week.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast heavy falls for the west and central Kimberley until at least Wednesday, while further east Kununurra and Wyndham can expect showers and storms through the week.

Residents have relished the heavy rains, with children in Broome seen playing in floodwaters across town on Sunday at Town Beach and Cable Beach.

After a poor start to the wet season, nearly 350mm of rain has fallen in Broome in the past 10 days.

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