Severe Tropical Cyclone Laurence was first identified by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) on 8 December 2009 over the Arafura Sea.

[2] Later that day, TCWC Perth cancelled all previous warnings and issued new watches for Kalumburu, south to Wyndham and west to Mitchell Plateau.

[9] Overnight, the system began moving inland and rapidly picking up speed, while gradually weakening into a category 3 tropical cyclone.

[9] By early 23 December, the cyclone had weakened to Category 1 intensity, but not before inundating eastern Pilbara region with rain and flash flooding.

Numerous trees were uprooted by wind gusts reaching 295 km/h (183 mph) and several homes sustained substantial damage.

Power and phone service to most of the Pilbara was lost during the storm and several residents sought shelter in public buildings.