Australia’s northern coast is on high alert as a powerful Category 5 tropical cyclone, named Zelia, approaches with the potential for “very destructive winds” and “very heavy rain.” Meteorologists are warning of gusts reaching up to 180 mph as the cyclone moves towards the coastline.
As of Thursday, Cyclone Zelia was positioned 90 miles north of Port Hedland and was expected to make landfall on the Pilbara Coast on Friday morning with wind speeds of up to 130 mph, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology. The cyclone is rapidly intensifying with strong convection around a warm eye, leading to heavy rainfall in its eastern rain bands.
Authorities have taken precautionary measures, closing more than a dozen schools in the northern region of Western Australia. Residents along the coast are being urged to seek shelter as Cyclone Zelia has been upgraded to a Category 5 cyclone, bringing fierce winds of up to 115 mph.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings of heavy rainfall along the coast over the next few days, particularly near and east of the cyclone’s center as it approaches land. Wind gusts of up to 180 mph near the cyclone’s center are expected to be very destructive upon landfall.
The cyclone is also forecast to bring intense rainfall that could result in flash flooding along the coastal and inland areas between Wallal Downs and Karratha. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services in Western Australia has issued a “cyclone watch and act” alert, urging residents in at-risk areas to take necessary precautions.
Due to the severe weather conditions, multiple highways have been closed in the region with concerns of potential road closures and flooding. Residents are cautioned about the risk of dangerous storm surges and flooding in low-lying coastal areas.
The ports of Dampier and Varanus Island, vital for commodities exports, have been shut down in anticipation of the cyclone. Cyclone Zelia, moving at a slow speed of less than 3 mph, is expected to be directed southward towards landfall as a result of a weakening westward anticyclone.
The most severe impact of the cyclone is predicted to hit coastal regions between De Grey and Karratha on Friday night. However, the landfall may be delayed until Saturday due to weakened ridging to the south of the system, which is expected to pull it further west.
