Communities in the path of a tropical low that is forecast to become a cyclone have been told to prepare for flooding and damaging winds.
The weather system is about 600 kilometres north of Broome in Western Australia's Kimberley region on Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
It's expected to turn southeast during the day and reach tropical cyclone intensity before crossing the coast northeast of Derby overnight or Saturday morning as a category one system.
People between Troughton Island and Beagle Bay, including those in Derby have been told to prepare their properties and emergency kits.
Gales with damaging wind gusts up to 100 km/h are likely to develop in coastal areas between Mitchell Plateau and Beagle Bay during the evening and Saturday morning, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has warned.
Heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding in parts of the northern and western Kimberley from Friday, extending further inland during the weekend.
Some communities could become isolated.
Travellers, visitors and tourists have been told to watch for alerts and reassess their travel plans.
The system is expected to weaken over land during the weekend.
