A tropical low in the Timor Sea, about 400 kilometres from Darwin, was making its way southwest at 15 km/h and would probably intensify into a cyclone later on Saturday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Thus far known only as 29U but potentially called Errol, the system is expected to track near the north of the Kimberley coast and bring damaging winds and heavy rain.
"Gales with damaging wind gusts could develop between King George River Mouth and Mitchell Plateau Saturday night or early Sunday morning, and west to Kuri Bay later Sunday morning, if the track shifts further south, closer to the Kimberley coast, the bureau said.
Extreme weather was likely to steer away from the coastline for the first half of next week, forecaster Angus Hines told the ABC.
"But it remains a system to watch because there is a chance that the latter half of next week it could veer to the south once again and potentially return to the Pilbara or Kimberley coast, maybe even late next week or next weekend," he said.
"It's a bit early to lock in the details but communities along the northern coast of Western Australia should certainly watch this space."
As the system moves past, tides may rise above the normal high tide mark but the sea level should not exceed the highest tide of the year.
The low was was exhibiting sustained winds near its centre of 65 km/h and gusting up to 95 km/h on Saturday afternoon.
Residents were being warned to secure boats, caravans, trailers, garden sheds, outdoor furniture, rainwater tanks, LPG bottles, loose material and rubbish.
Preparing emergency kits with enough food and water to last at least five days, was also advisable.
The bureau's seven-day forecast projects the impending cyclone will track out to sea before moving back towards the West Kimberley coastline at the end of next week.
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