Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 5:51 am WST on Thursday 13 February 2025

Headline:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia intensifying and slow moving north of Port Hedland; to bring very destructive winds and very heavy rain to the Pilbara coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Bidyadanga to Dampier, including Port Hedland, Karratha and Dampier, and extending inland to Marble Bar

Watch Zone
Dampier to Mardie and inland areas to Nullagine

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia 18U at 5:00 am AWST:
Intensity: Category 4, sustained winds near the centre of 175 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 250 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 20 kilometres of 19.1 degrees South 118.2 degrees East, estimated to be 140 kilometres north northwest of Port Hedland and 230 kilometres northeast of Karratha.

Movement: west at 6 kilometres per hour.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia (category 4) is intensifying rapidly and now expected to reach category 5 intensity today. It is expected to remain slow moving to the north of Port Hedland today before moving to the coast on Friday. Zelia is forecast to bring destructive wind gusts to communities on the Pilbara coast from as early as Thursday night and more likely Friday as Zelia nears the coast.

The very destructive inner core of the cyclone will most likely cross the coast between Whim Creek and DeGrey including Port Hedland on Friday afternoon or night, although a later crossing further west can not be ruled out. Heavy rainfall is expected on the coast during the next couple of days and falls will be locally intense near the centre of the cyclone as it crosses the coast.

Hazards:
Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are developing near the coastal fringe between De Grey and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland. During Thursday these may extend to other areas along the coast between Bidyadanga and Dampier, including Karratha. These DAMAGING WIND GUSTS may extend west to Mardie during Friday, if the system moves further west. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour may also extend inland to Marble Bar and Nullagine during Friday.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 160 kilometres per hour may develop between Whim Creek to Wallal Downs including Port Hedland later Thursday as Zelia moves closer to the coast. Alternatively, DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS may be delayed until Friday and occur between De Grey and Mardie including Karratha, Dampier and Port Hedland, if the system remains off the coast and moves further west.

VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 290 kilometres per hour are likely close to the centre of the cyclone as it crosses the coast.

HEAVY to LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely overnight and during Thursday across coastal and adjacent inland areas between Whim Creek and Wallal Downs. Otherwise isolated HEAVY RAINFALL is forecast along the coast between Bidyadanga and Dampier, and extending inland to Nullagine during Thursday. A Flood Watch is also current for catchments in the Pilbara and western Kimberley.

Residents between Karratha and Bidyadanga including Port Hedland are specifically warned of the potential of a dangerous storm tide as the cyclone centre crosses the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with damaging waves and dangerous flooding of some low-lying areas close to the shoreline.

Recommended Action:
Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app.

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