BROOME, Australia, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Parts of Western Australia were under a cyclone warning Saturday as Tropical Cyclone Laurence approached coastal areas, a weather forecaster said.
Andrew Burton of the Weather Bureau said the cyclone warning in the Australian state reached from Cape Leveque to Wallal as Laurence has been gaining strength while crossing the ocean, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Burton said while Laurence was downgraded to a Category 1 cyclone, there is a strong possibility it could be significantly upgraded.
"We do expect that it could easily become a severe tropical cyclone, possibly by tomorrow," Burton said.
"It could intensify back up to a Category 4, even a Category 5 system isn't out of the question."
Western Australia's Kimberley region has already felt the force of the cyclone thanks to heavy rains and strong winds, ABC reported.
The cyclone has brought as much as 15.7 inches of rainfall to the area, measurements showed.
