SYDNEY, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Residents of northwest Australia have been told to prepare for a tropical cyclone likely to form within days.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) on Monday said that a tropical low system off the north coast of Western Australia (WA) in the Indian Ocean has a "high chance" of reaching tropical cyclone strength within 48 hours.

A tropical cyclone warning has been put in place for towns along a 650-km stretch of coast in WA's Kimberley region, including the town of Broome with a population of about 15,000.

The BoM said that damaging wind gusts of up to 100 km per hour could develop in the region on Tuesday. It warned residents to expect localized heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides.

It said the system may reach category 3 severe tropical cyclone strength by late Tuesday or Wednesday. A flood watch warning has been put in place for catchments in the northern part of the Kimberley region.

"Although there is no immediate danger you need to start preparing for dangerous weather and keep up to date," the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services said in a post on social media.

"Ensure your emergency kit is complete and check your family knows what to do. Your emergency kit should include canned food and water to last five to seven days, a first aid kit, medication, cash and a battery-operated radio and spare batteries to listen to warnings," the department said.

It urged people in the area to secure vehicles, boats, gas bottles, rainwater tanks and other loose material around their homes. Enditem

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