Australia's largest iron ore port has closed as it braces for a cyclone that could intensify into a powerful category three system.
The port at Port Hedland has shut down as Tropical Cyclone Zelia approached Western Australia's coast.
The looming cyclone intensified into a category two system, sparking authorities and the region's multi-national mining companies into action.
Port Hedland local Chris Ward said cyclone preparations were well under way in the iron ore town of about 16000.
"The rain has well and truly started. People are stocking up at the supermarket on food and water, and tying down stuff around their homes," he told AAP.
"The airports getting busy too, FIFO workers are flying out. Looks like it's going to be a wet and wild Valentine's Day."
The system was likely to develop into a damaging category three cyclone before crossing the Pilbara or west Kimberley coast from Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
It warned destructive winds gusts of up to 220km/h could develop between Whim Creek to Wallal Downs as the system crept closer to the coast.
The Pilbara Ports Authority cleared berths and anchorages of vessels before closing the port.
BHP paused non-essential travel to Port Hedland while iron ore mines continued to operate.
Authorities worked with retailers to ensure supplies are available to rural, Indigenous and isolated communities, with the cyclone tracking toward the east Pilbara coast.
Additional on-the-ground personnel, flood boats and aircraft have also been pre-deployed.
An evacuation centre is expected to be open at Port Hedland when warnings are upgraded to "watch and act".
The storm is expected to bring rainfall totals in excess of 500mm to the region.
Residents in a warning zone spanning from Bidyadanga to Dampier have been urged to monitor updates.
Major roads and arterial routes are expected to be impacted for up to a week in northern WA.
A clean-up is continuing in north Queensland after nearly two weeks of flooding that claimed two lives and forced hundreds to evacuate.
The danger has not passed with flood warnings and watches still in place across the region.
But the record rainfall that isolated communities, closed schools and damaged roads has finally eased.
