The forecast path shown above is the Bureau’s best estimate of the cyclone’s future movement and intensity. There is always some uncertainty associated with tropical cyclone forecasting and the grey zone indicates the range of likely tracks of the cyclone centre.

Due to the uncertainty in the future movement, the indicated winds will almost certainly extend to regions outside the rings on this map. The extent of the warning and watch zones reflects this.

This product is designed for land-based communities; mariners should read the coastal waters and high seas warnings.

Headline:

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia to make landfall near or just east of Port Hedland this afternoon.

Areas affected:

Warning zone: Wallal Downs to Roebourne, including Port Hedland, and extending inland to Marble Bar, Millstream, Nullagine, Tom Price and Paraburdoo but not including Roebourne.

Watch zone: None.

Cancelled zones: None.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia 18U at 10:00 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 19.6 degrees South, 118.8 degrees East , 80 kilometres north northeast of Port Hedland and 200 kilometres north northwest of Marble Bar .
Movement: southeast at 8 kilometres per hour .

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia (category 5) is moving to the south southeast and expected to make landfall this afternoon near or to the east of Port Hedland. Zelia will then take a general southerly track overland and gradually weaken. Intense rainfall is expected near and to the east of the centre of the cyclone as it crosses the coast.

Hazards:

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 later this afternoon.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 160 kilometres per hour are likely to develop in coastal areas east of Whim Creek to De Grey, including Port Hedland by early afternoon.

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are occurring on the coast between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland. Gales with gusts to 90 kilometres per hour may extend to other areas along the coast between Wallal Downs and east of Roebourne, if the track deviates from forecast. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour may also extend to inland areas, possibly including Marble Bar, Nullagine, or Tom Price and Paraburdoo, from early Saturday.

HEAVY to LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely today across coastal and adjacent inland areas between Wallal Downs and Karratha, extending inland to Nullagine and Tom Price by early Saturday. A Flood Watches and Warnings are also current for catchments in the Pilbara, western Kimberley and northern Gascoyne. Go to www.bom.gov.au/wa/warnings for further details.

Residents in Port Hedland and east to Wallal Downs are specifically warned of the potential of a DANGEROUS STORM TIDE as the cyclone centre crosses the coast. Hwever, the more recent motion to the southeast decreases the risk of the storm tide at Port Hedland for the noon high today. 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.

Tropical Cyclone information is also available in MetEye