Cyclone Zelia to reach category 5 system on Thursday before crossing coast, bringing destructive winds

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Cyclone Zelia to reach category 5 system on Thursday before crossing coast, bringing destructive winds

Cyclone Zelia is expected to reach a category 5 system on Thursday, potentially bringing flash flooding and destructive winds up to 290km/h if it crosses the coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the already category 4 system will intensify to a category 5 cyclone on Thursday before slowing moving to the north of Port Hedland.

Destructive wind gusts up to 160km/h could reach Port Hedland and the areas between Whim Creek and Wallal Downs on Thursday.

The Bureau said even more destructive winds of up to 290 km/h would likely be recorded near the centre of the cyclone.

While strong winds are forecast to reach communities from as early as Thursday night, the Bureau said they were more likely on Friday as Cyclone 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,” an update by the Bureau said.

“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.”

People in the Eight Mile Beach through to Whim Creek and Inland to Marble Bar are bounded by a cyclone watch and act alert, with the Bureau stating there is a possible threat to lives and home.

Residents are urged to make final preparations to their properties.

“If you live in a caravan, older home or a home that has not been maintained, you should go to your nearest evacuation centre or safer place,” the alert said.

Camera IconA Cyclone Watch and Act is in place for Eighty Mile Beach to Whim Creek and inland to Marble Bar. Credit: EmergencyWA

An evacuation centre has opened at JD Hardie Youth and Community Hub in South Hedland.

People are urge to prepare an emergency kit, which includes enough canned food and water for five to seven days.

As of 5am on Thursday, the system was estimated to be about 10km north west of Port Hedland and 230 km north east of Karratha.

It is moving about 6km/h west, with potential strong winds delayed until Friday if the system continues to move in that direction.

Great Northern Highway between Buttweld Road, Port Hedland and Roebuck Plains Roadhouse will close from 10.30am onwards.

Ripon Hills Road and Marble Bar Road will also shut, with the community warned some community could be isolated.

Tides are expected to rise significantly as a result of the cyclone, with damaging waves and possible flooding for low-lying areas close to shore.

Bureau of Meteorology WA manager James Ashley said on Wednesday more than 500mm of rain was possible.

He emphasised that the exact path of the cyclone was unpredictable.

“We’re expecting erratic motion and there’s low confidence on the future path of the system,” he said.

“Coastal parts could see elevated wind speeds for a prolonged ******* because of that slow motion of the system.

“If the system crosses the coast as a severe tropical system, we could see wind gusts in excess of 200km/h but regardless of intensity, we expect this system to produce very heavy rainfall and areas close to the path could see in excess of 500 millimetres over the course of this event.”

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Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm said additional supplies were being sent to pharmacies and grocery stores.

Triple road train permits has been established for extra supply trucks to get into the North West.

More than 40 personnel have been deployed to support existing resources, with more expected to arrive later in the week.

“We’re also bringing in additional capabilities like flood boats into the Pilbara over the course of (Tuesday) and (Wednesday) and (Thursday), where we also have additional aircraft on standby in the Pilbara for incident response efforts.

“Two rotary wing aircraft are based in Newman and one fixed wing aircraft is based in Karratha. We’ve also established a rescue helicopter capable of winching based in Broome.”

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