Resources companies in Western Australia’s north are bracing for Tropical Cyclone Lua, which is expected to intensify as it approaches the Pilbara coast.

Forecasters believe Lua could cause flooding in the resources-rich Kimberley region.

Oil and gas giant Woodside Petroleum has shut-in production at its Vincent and Enfield oil fields off the North West Cape and at the Cossack, Wanaea, Lambert and Hermes oil fields on the North West Shelf.

Chinese-owned CITIC Pacific Mining has begun reducing staff at its huge Sino Iron Ore project at Cape Preston and suspended all non-essential travel to the site.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) latest update at 0900 AWST said a cyclone watch alert was current for coastal areas from Cape Leveque to Mardie.

The cyclone is currently moving slowly in an easterly direction but is expected to intensify into a severe tropical cyclone late on Thursday.

It is then expected to accelerate to the southeast on Friday and early on Saturday towards the east Pilbara coast.

BoM anticipates Lua will remain severe as it approaches the coast.

On Saturday, destructive winds with gusts of more than 150 kilometres per hour are expected to develop in coastal areas near the centre of the cyclone.

In the meantime, heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal areas of the east Pilbara and west Kimberley.

Fire & Emergency Services Authority of WA warned at 1135 AWST that there may be flooding at Cape Leveque, Lennard River, Fitzroy River and Isdell River in the West Kimberley region in the next 24 hours.