Zelia makes landfall near De Grey River as a powerful Category 5 cyclone, Australia
Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Zelia made landfall over Western Australia’s coast between Pardoo and Port Hedland at 12:30 local time (LT) on Friday, February 14, 2025, with winds up to 290 km/h (180 mph). The cyclone caused extensive damage and prompted emergency response efforts.
Cyclone Zelia making landfall at 04:00 UTC on February 14, 2025, over the coast of West Australia. Image credit: JMA/NOAA/CIRA - Himawari, Zoom Earth, The Watchers
Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia made landfall between Pardoo and Port Hedland in Western Australia at 12:30 local time (LT) on Friday, February 14 as a Category 5 storm.
The cyclone had maximum sustained winds of 290 km/h (180 mph) at landfall. It then moved southward, weakening to Category 4 strength.
As of 00:02 LT on Saturday, February 15, the system was moving south over the inland eastern Pilbara and weakening rapidly.
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), the system had weakened to a Category 1 storm by 23:00 LT on Friday, with 10-minute sustained winds near the center at 85 km/h (53 mph) and gusts reaching 120 km/h (75 mph). It was located 20 km (12 miles) southwest of Marble Bar and 85 km (53 miles) northwest of Nullagine.
Zelia is expected to weaken to a tropical low by 11:00 LT on Saturday. There is still a risk of flash floods due to the heavy rain associated with the system along with the potential for widespread wind damage.
Severe weather warnings remain in effect for inland areas of the eastern Pilbara, including Marble Bar, Nullagine, and Munjina.
Port Hedland, one of the world’s busiest iron ore export hubs, narrowly avoided the storm’s most destructive core. However, emergency services are responding to extensive damage in surrounding areas.
“As Cyclone Zelia crosses the coast, our emergency response focus shifts to addressing the impact of the destructive weather,” WA Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said.
Major ports, including Port Hedland, Dampier, and Varanus Island, were closed ahead of the cyclone’s arrival. Mining companies Rio Tinto and BHP suspended operations, clearing ships from ports and halting rail transport.
“It is too early to determine how long port and rail operations will remain closed or what the impact will be,” Rio Tinto stated. The Pilbara region, which produces nearly 40% of the world’s iron ore supply, is expected to experience economic disruptions as authorities assess the damage in the coming days.
References:
1 Tropical Cyclone Zelia 18U – BOM – Saturday, February 15, 2025
2 Cyclone Zelia hits Western Australia with winds around 300 km/h; downpours torrential rain – TOI – Friday, February 14, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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