A flood alert has been issued for the north and west Kimberley region as a tropical low moves in from the east.
Western Australia's Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) says that while there is no immediate danger, residents and holidaymakers in the affected region should prepare for flooding.
WA's Bureau of Meteorology says the developing low northeast of Kununurra may bring heavy rainfall between 100 and 150mm over the next two days as the system moves west.
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FESA urged people to watch for changes in water levels and to be ready to relocate and move equipment and livestock early so they were not caught in floodwaters.
It also advised people to prepare emergency kits with enough canned food and water to last four days and to avoid driving or walking into floodwaters of unknown depth and current.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the low was expected to develop into a tropical cyclone off WA's northwest coast on New Year's Day and it has declared a cyclone watch for coastal areas from Exmouth to Wallal.
Severe weather meteorologist Brad Santos said the low was likely to move offshore from the Kimberley and develop into a cyclone on Friday or New Year's Day off the Pilbara coast after moving quickly west-southwest.
"We're not anticipating at this stage a severe tropical cyclone," Mr Santos said.
"But people need to be aware, particularly over the holiday time."
Gales may develop along the Pilbara coast on Saturday as the system moved along the coast, a bureau advisory said.
