Western Australia braces for 300km/h winds and intense rainfall as Tropical Cyclone Zelia approaches

Tropical Cyclone Zelia is barreling in the direction of Western Australia’s Pilbara coast, threatening to convey damaging wind gusts of virtually 300km/h and intense rainfall because it makes landfall sooner than predicted.

The highly effective class 5 system is about to make landfall close to the DeGrey River mouth, east of Port Hedland. It had been predicted to cross the coast this night.

The cyclone is predicted to then take a common southerly monitor overland and weaken, in accordance with the Bureau of Meteorology.

Intense rainfall is predicted to influence communities close to and to the east of the centre of the cyclone because it crosses the coast.

Harmful wind gusts of as much as 290km/h are seemingly near the centre of the cyclone because it crosses the coast nevertheless Port Hedland lies exterior this area.

“Harmful wind gusts of as much as 160km/h are seemingly in coastal areas between Port Hedland and Pardoo this afternoon extending to the adjoining inland areas this night,” the Bureau of Meteorology stated in its warning issued at 12pm (AWST).

“Gales with damaging wind gusts as much as 120km/h are occurring on the coast between Pardoo and Whim Creek, together with Port Hedland.

“Damaging wind gusts as much as 120km/h and to increase to inland areas.”

It will doubtlessly embrace Marble Bar, Nullagine, Tom Value and Paraburdoo from early tomorrow.

“Heavy to regionally intense rainfall, which can result in flash flooding, is probably going in the present day throughout coastal and adjoining inland areas between Wallal Downs and Whim Creek, extending inland to Nullagine and Tom Value by early Saturday,” the Bureau of Meteorology stated.

“Residents in Port Hedland and east to Wallal Downs are particularly warned of the potential of a harmful storm tide because the cyclone centre crosses the coast. 

“Nevertheless, the newer movement to the southeast decreases the danger of the storm tide at Port Hedland for the midday excessive in the present day. 

“Tides are more likely to rise considerably above the conventional excessive tide mark with damaging waves and harmful flooding of some low-lying areas near the shoreline.”

Flood watches and warnings are present for catchments within the Pilbara, western Kimberley and northern Gascoyne.