A tropical cyclone is forecast to develop off WA’s northwest coast and head toward the Pilbara region this week, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.

A tropical low forming today off the northwest Kimberley coast is likely to move southwest over coming days, with a high risk of becoming a cyclone from Wednesday.  

“The system is then forecast to move further towards the Pilbara coast but be slow-moving on Thursday and Friday while strengthening further,” the bureau says.

“There is high variability in location and intensity of the system by landfall.”

A track map shows the cyclone potentially reaching category 2 strength by Thursday morning.

Cyclone Sean reached category 4 intensity last month, bringing record rainfall to Karratha and disrupting iron ore shipments while remaining offshore.