TROPICAL cyclone Zelia has been declared and continues to threaten “severe impact” to the east Pilbara coast or adjacent Kimberley coast later on Thursday and Friday.
A tropical cyclone advice from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued early on Wednesday, 12 February, said Cyclone Zelia was continuing to develop.
The port of Port Hedland started clearing vessels, including those at anchor yesterday and expected to be clear by today.
A cyclone warning is in place from Broome to Port Hedland, but not including Broome.
A watch zone exists from Port Hedland to Dampier and inland to Marble Bar, including Marble Bar.
At 2am today Cyclone Zelia was a category 1 with sustained winds near the centre of 85 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour.
The cyclone was within 55 kilometres of 17.6 degrees South 119.6 degrees East, estimated to be 280 kilometres west of Broome and 320 kilometres north northeast of Port Hedland, moving at eight kilometres per hour.
BOM said Cyclone Zelia will move slowly to the south towards the east Pilbara coast and may develop further to category 3 intensity before crossing the east Pilbara or adjacent west Kimberley coast most likely Friday.
“The slow movement of the system is likely to produce very high rainfall totals near the track,” BOM’s advice said.
It warns gales with damaging wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour may develop along the coast between Broome (not including Broome) and Port Hedland later today (Wednesday).
“These damaging wind gusts may extend west to Dampier on Thursday if the system moves further west than forecast.
“Destructive wind gusts of up to 160 kilometres per hour may develop between Bidyadanga and Port Hedland during Thursday as Zelia moves closer to the coast.
“From Wednesday night, heavy to locally intense rainfall which may lead to flash flooding becomes likely across coastal and adjacent inland areas between Bidyadanga and Port Hedland. Otherwise isolated heavy rainfall is forecast along the coast in Broome and Dampier. A flood watch is also current for catchments in the Pilbara and western Kimberley.
“Residents between De Grey and Bidyadanga 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.”
