Tropical Cyclone Zelia Forms Off Western Australia, Residents Urged to Prepare

Tropical Cyclone Zelia has formed off WA’s north-west coast and is set to intensify before making landfall later this week. Areas from Broome to Dampier are advised to prepare for winds gusting up to 160 km/h and heavy rainfall causing flash flooding. Timely preparedness is crucial as officials anticipate escalating conditions in the coming days.

Tropical Cyclone Zelia has developed off the north-west coast of Western Australia and is predicted to intensify before impacting the coast later this week. Currently classified as a category one system, it is located approximately 280 kilometers west of Broome and 320 kilometers northeast of Port Hedland, moving slowly toward the east Pilbara coast. Residents in communities from Broome to Dampier, including areas inland such as Marble Bar, are advised to prepare for the approaching storm.

The cyclone is anticipated to strengthen to category three by Friday, coinciding with its expected landfall as a severe tropical cyclone. The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that damaging winds, potentially reaching speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, could begin as early as later today. Areas between Broome and Dampier may also experience heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash flooding in coastal and adjacent inland locations from Bidyadanga to Port Hedland.

Destructive wind gusts may escalate to 160 kilometers per hour between Bidyadanga and Port Hedland on Thursday as Tropical Cyclone Zelia nears the coast. Leon Gardiner, Superintendent of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), emphasized the importance of timely preparations, stating that, “If we see winds … above 125kph we’ll escalate to a cyclone watch-and-act.” He advised residents to finalize their preparedness rather than starting at the last minute as the cyclone approaches.

Superintendent Gardiner noted that remote areas would also be affected, and DEFS is actively coordinating with pastoral stations, tourism operations, roadhouses, and the Bidyadanga community to ensure readiness. He remarked, “Our actions stay the same in terms of the messaging and the work we do to prepare,” indicating that resource deployment plans are in place for both pre-impact and post-impact scenarios.

In Port Hedland, residents at a local caravan park were instructed to evacuate for safety. Among them, residents Bryan and Jenny Jenner opted to relocate their caravan and seek shelter with friends, with Ms. Jenner commenting, “We’ve been told all residents have to pack out and get out, so that’s what we are doing.” Port Hedland, known for housing the world’s largest bulk export port by tonnage, is proactively clearing ships to prevent infrastructure damage and ensures the flow of trade valued at hundreds of millions of dollars daily.

Pilbara Ports has announced that all anchored vessels are expected to have vacated the area by Wednesday night, in anticipation of the impending cyclone’s impact.

Tropical Cyclone Zelia poses a significant threat to Western Australia’s north-west coast, escalating from category one to possibly category three before making landfall. Authorities are actively urging community preparedness and have initiated evacuation protocols in vulnerable areas, particularly in Port Hedland, due to the cyclone’s heavy rainfall and potentially destructive winds. Stakeholders, including DEFS and local residents, are coordinating efforts to ensure safety and minimize disruptions to vital infrastructure.

Original Source: www.abc.net.au