Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 11:56 am WST on Thursday 13 February 2025

Headline:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia, now category 5, to bring very destructive winds and very heavy rain to the Pilbara coast.

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

Watch Zone
Dampier to Onslow and inland areas to Nullagine and Tom Price

Cancelled Zone
Bidyadanga to Wallal Downs.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia 18U at 11:00 am AWST:
Intensity: Category 5, sustained winds near the centre of 205 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 285 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 20 kilometres of 19.1 degrees South 118.1 degrees East, estimated to be 145 kilometres north northwest of Port Hedland and 225 kilometres northeast of Karratha.

Movement: slow moving.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia (category 5) is slow moving to the north of Port Hedland, forecast to move south to the coast on Friday. Destructive wind gusts are likely for communities on the Pilbara coast from as early as Friday morning but more likely later on Friday as Zelia nears the coast. The very destructive inner core of the cyclone will most likely cross the coast between De Grey and Karratha on Friday night. Heavy rainfall is expected on the coast during the next couple of days. Rainfall will become intense near and to the east of 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. Gales may extend later today to other areas along the coast between Wallal Downs and Dampier, including Karratha. These DAMAGING WIND GUSTS may extend west to Onslow during Friday, if the system moves further west. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour may also extend inland to Nullagine and Tom Price from early Saturday.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 160 kilometres per hour may develop for coastal and island areas between De Grey to Roebourne including Port Hedland from early Friday morning as Zelia moves closer to the coast. DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS are more likely later on Friday between Roebourne and Dampier including Karratha and Dampier as Zelia tracks towards the coast. These may extend west to Mardie if the system takes a more westward track.

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 during today across coastal and adjacent inland areas between Wallal Downs and Karratha, extending west to Mardie and inland to Nullagine during Friday. Otherwise isolated HEAVY RAINFALL is also forecast along the coast between Bidyadanga and Dampier, and inland to Nullagine today. A Flood Watch is also current for catchments in the Pilbara, western Kimberley and northern Gascoyne.

Residents between Wallal Downs and Dampier including Port Hedland and Karratha 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.

As Zelia approaches the coast, a STORM TIDE is expected between Wallal Downs and Port Hedland during today and into Friday. Large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours.

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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