Karratha residents stock up on supplies ahead of the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)

Residents across Karratha and surrounding parts of the Pilbara have been urged to take shelter, with Tropical Cyclone Mitchell a chance to severely intensify as it approaches the coast.

The system is moving south-west along the Pilbara coast, and is currently at category two strength.

A cyclone Emergency Warning was issued for Karratha, and other communities between Mardie and Whim Creek, just after 3pm on Saturday.

In means residents are now required to shelter indoors until the alert is lifted.

Authorities have deployed additional personnel to the region to deal with the cyclone’s aftermath. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)

The Bureau of Meteorology said winds of up to 220 kilometres per hour could hit coastal areas around Karratha, Dampier and Wickham

“Those winds are strengthening as the system approaches,” duty forecaster Joey Rawson said.

“There’s still a slight chance it may jump to a category four system.

“The system is being more intense than we first thought.”

That was echoed by WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) who urged residents to adhere to the warnings.

Karratha and nearby Dampier (pictured) are likely to be hit by destructive winds as the cyclone passes to the north overnight. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)

“We’ve been tracking it throughout the course of the day; the winds are intensifying,” DFES incident controller Todd Pender said.

“It’s not the wind so much as the debris that gets picked up.

“You get hit by a piece of tin or a branch, there is the potential for serious injury.”

Cloud drifts over Karratha ahead of the close passage of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell on Saturday. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)