Source: Bureau of Meteorology

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 32

Issued at 8:52 pm WST on Thursday 13 February 2025
Headline:

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia 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 and Millstream

Watch Zone
Dampier to Onslow, and inland areas to Pannawonica, Nullagine, Tom Price and Paraburdoo
Cancelled Zone

None.
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia 18U at 8:00 pm 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 19.3 degrees South 118.2 degrees East, estimated to be 120 kilometres north northwest of Port Hedland and 210 kilometres northeast of Karratha.

Movement: slow moving.

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

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

VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 320 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 Friday across coastal and adjacent inland areas between Wallal Downs and Karratha, extending west to Mardie and inland to Nullagine and Tom Price by early Saturday. Otherwise isolated HEAVY RAINFALL is also forecast along the coast between Bidyadanga and Dampier, and inland to Nullagine tonight and during Friday. 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, Wickham 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.
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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