SYDNEY, April 17 (Xinhua) -- A tropical cyclone warning has been issued for Australia's northwest coast, with residents and visitors advised to prepare for damaging winds.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) on Thursday morning said that Tropical Cyclone Errol has intensified into a category four system in the Indian Ocean.

It said that the system was about 510 km northwest of Broome, a coastal town of about 15,000 people in the northwestern Kimberley region of Western Australia (WA), and is tracking towards smaller communities to the north.

The BoM said that the cyclone is expected to weaken before making landfall on either Friday or Saturday but warned residents and visitors in the western Kimberley to expect gale force winds and heavy rain.

It said that communities along a 200-km stretch of coast to the north of Broome could experience damaging or destructive wind gusts.

The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has issued an emergency alert advising people to "start preparing" for dangerous weather by securing boats, caravans, outdoor furniture, gas bottles and loose material around homes and workplaces.

"Travellers, visitors, tourists and locals should monitor weather conditions and review their travel within the warning area," it said.

The BoM said it expects the cyclone to "quickly" decrease in strength to category two during Friday, then category one early on Saturday. Enditem

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