Two cyclones were bearing down on the state’s mid-west and north-west coast on Saturday afternoon.

The first, tropical Cyclone Odette, was downgraded from cyclone strength on Saturday morning but was still expected to bring strong winds to the Exmouth region and parts of the Gascoyne coast. Cyclones are more common in the far north-west and buildings are designed to withstand such events.

But authorities say Odette is likely be absorbed by the second cyclone, Cyclone Seroja, which is causing authorities the most concern.

It was expected to make landfall much further south on Sunday or early Monday, the destructive winds were expected to be felt on the coast between Geraldton and Denham.

The cyclone was forecast to move quickly, up to 50km/h, as it makes landfall. That means conditions will deteriorate quickly and be unpredictable.

Authorities say high tides threaten to cause inundation of coastal paths between Coral Bay and Lancelin, which might lead to serious flooding at Denham and Shark Bay.