Shipping delays are expected at the commodities port of Geraldton in Western Australia as authorities prepare to shut down operations before a major storm buffets the area.

WA’s Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) on Monday issued a severe weather warning from Geraldton, about 450km north of Perth, to Bremer Bay, about 500km southeast of the capital, saying destructive winds were expected to sweep through the state’s entire southwest corner.

Geraldton Port chief executive Peter Klein said the only ship in the harbour would be sent to deeper waters and the port would be closed to all shipping movements late on Monday in anticipation of a storm surge.

“At this stage we’ll be closing the port until it subsides,” Mr Klein said.

“It’s big enough to be concerned about the safety of vessels alongside the port.”

Geraldton port is still operating, but all six berths will be closed and incoming ships will have to wait until the storm has passed before entering the port.

“The port will be empty, but it won’t be until later tonight that we start to clear the port,” Mr Klein said.

A spokesman for Mount Gibson Iron Ore, which operates the Tallering Peak mine 175km east of Geraldton, said the company was not expecting the storm to affect operations.