Tropical cyclone Zelia: Bureau of Meteorology forecast cyclone to make landfall on Friday night

Tropical cyclone Zelia has developed into a category five system, prompting warnings there is a “significant threat to lives and homes” in the Pilbara.

The category five cyclone — the top rating for cyclone severity — is expected to hit the Pilbara coast between Dampier and De Grey, with Karratha and Port Hedland both at risk of direct impact.

The cyclone was located 145km north-west of Port Hedland and 225km north-east of Karratha at 11am on Thursday morning.

Bureau of Meteorology WA manager James Ashley said the cyclone is expected to make landfall during Friday night.

“Tropical cyclone Zelia developed rapidly overnight fulled by a very warm ocean off the northern parts of WA,” he said.

“The system is very slow-moving, but will drift westwards today, before taking a south-west turn towards the coast overnight and during tomorrow.

“This is a very dangerous system that will cause significant impacts.”

Winds and rain have already picked up along the Pilbara coast with destructive winds in excess of 125km/h developing overnight as the cyclone approaches land.

Rainfall in excess of 500mm is also expected, with flooding closing Great Northern Highway between Sandfire and Port Hedland, Ripon Hills Road, and Marble Bar Road.

Mr Ashley warned category five cyclones can reach wind gusts exceeding 280km/h.

“This is pretty rare. We mentioned Ilsa, that’s the last time a category five cyclone crossed the WA coast and that was in April 2023,” he said.

“There’s been others, of course, but generally this sort of thing might happen every five years or so.”

Extra resources have been sent to the Pilbara including a heavy-lift helicopter from the Federal Government’s aerial fleet.

The Sikorsky S61 is coming from Queensland, where it’s been assisting with safety and recovery efforts in the Townsville flooding.

Where exactly the heavy duty helicopter will land is yet to be determined as authorities monitor how close is safe to fly ahead of the cyclone making landfall.

The Commonwealth chopper will join the seven aircraft being used for incident response and resupply efforts, two fixed wing planes and another rescue helicopter with winching capabilities in Broome.

Five extra boats are also being readied in the Pilbara as the likelihood of dangerous flash flooding increases.

SES volunteers have supplied more than 10,000 sandbags across the region.

“The intensity of tropical cyclone Zelia means there is a significant threat to lives and property and I urge people to follow the directions of emergency services,” Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said.

“We have mobilised 50 incident management team and emergency responders to the Pilbara and Kimberley to prepare for the tropical cyclone.”

Retail stores have now shut in Dampier, Karratha and Port Hedland as Mr Klemm said grocery supplies are looking strong.

“Coles, Woolies, and Metcash have undertaken a raft of advanced supply into Karratha and then further north up into Broome and other parts,” he said.

“They’ve reported to us that the stocks are really good. Yes, there’s been some some increase in purchasing that that often goes on in these types of circumstances ... but as soon as they’re able to get back in with the road closures then they will.”

There is a Watch and Act warning residents between Eighty Mile Beach and Dampier, including Karratha, and inland to Marble Bar and Millstream.

Cyclone Advice is in place from Dampier to Onslow and inland to Tom Price and Nanutarra.

Qantas and Virgin Australia cancelled flights in and out of Port Hedland and two evacuation centres have opened at JD Hardie Youth and Community Hub in South Hedland and Karratha Leisureplex in Karratha.

More than a dozen local schools have been closed and Pilbara Ports are preparing to close the ports of Dampier and Varanus Island from 6pm after closing the Port Hedland port on Wednesday.

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