Cyclone Zelia RECAP: Downgraded to category two, approaching Marble Bar
Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia made landfall hours earlier than expected at 12.30pm.
It has been downgraded to a category two system.
Key Events
Hedland residents seek shelter as Karratha evacuations ease
Karratha residents are gradually leaving evacuation centres, while more Hedland locals continue to seek shelter.
More than 180 people remain at the JD Hardie Youth and Community Hub in South Hedland, while eight people remain at the Karratha Leisureplex.
With conditions still too dangerous for much movement in Hedland, DFES is urging residents to stay put and shelter in place.
Further road closures as cyclone moves inland
Main Roads will close more roads this afternoon as the cyclone moves further inland.
Motorists are reminded not to drive through or enter flood waters as flood warnings begin to ramp up across the Pilbara and Kimberley.
The following roads will be closed from 4pm:
- Nanutarra Munjina Road – between North West Coastal Highway and Great Northern Highway
- Manuwarra Red Dog Highway – between Area W Access Road, Tom Price Township and Millstream National Park Road
- Karijini Drive between Great Northern Hwy and Tom Price
- Great Northern Highway – between Auski Roadhouse and Newman
- Paraburdoo Tom Price Road – between Nanutarra Munjina Road and Tom Price Township
These roads remain closed:
- Port Hedland Road – between Great Northern Highway and Wedge Street, Port Hedland
- Great Northern Highway – between Port Hedland and Auski Roadhouse
- Great Northern Highway – between Port Hedland (Buttweld Road) and Roebuck turn off (Broome Road)
- Marble Bar Road – between Port Hedland and Roy Hill
- Ripon Hills Road – from Marble Bay to Telfer Mine turn off
- North West Coastal Highway – between Roebourne and Port Hedland
- Gibb River Road – between Mount Barnett and Pentecost River
- Gibb River Road – in both directions between Pentecost River and Great Northern Highway
BHP’s $130m dust fence still standing
Mining giant BHP’s $130 million dust fence in Port Hedland has so far weathered the storm after TC Zelia swept through the town.
Images circulating on social media show the panels withstood major structural damage in the first instance.
The wall was built to reduce dust emissions from BHP’s iron ore operations, with the panels designed to give way in extreme winds.
More than 160 seek shelter at evacuation centres
More than 160 people took refuge at evacuation shelters in South Hedland and Karratha overnight.
As of Friday at 10am, 124 residents sheltered at the JD Hardie Youth and Community Hub in South Hedland, while 42 sought safety at the Karratha Leisureplex.
The Department of Communities is expected to provide an update on numbers at 3pm today.
DFES has confirmed it is currently too dangerous to leave for an evacuation centre and has urged people to shelter in place.
Australian banks offer assistance for cyclone-affected customers
Australian banks are stepping up to support customers affected by Tropical Cyclone Zelia in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Commonwealth Bank has announced a range of emergency assistance measures, with Retail Banking Services Group Executive Angus Sullivan urging impacted customers to reach out for tailored support.
Bankwest is also offering emergency assistance and has encouraged customers to discuss their financial needs.
Both banks have put special arrangements in place to provide relief to individuals and businesses facing financial challenges due to the cyclone.
‘Safety comes first’: Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation urges residents to seek safety
Pilbara Traditional Owner organisation Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd has urged residents to take shelter at the Karratha Leisureplex.
In a statement, NYFL said senior community members and families are setting up camp inside the Leisureplex, and there is “no shame” in seeking safety.
“Remember, the cultural way is to look after each other and yourselves,” the statement said.
“Cultural way is to be safe.”
Current school closures
Nearly 30 primary and high schools were closed due to the cyclone today after another 14 were closed overnight and early this morning.
It remains to be seen whether they’ll be back in action on Monday.
School closures:
- Baler Primary School
- Cassia Education Support Centre
- Cassia Primary School
- Hedland Senior High School
- Marble Bar Primary School
- Pilbara Engagement Centre
- Port Hedland School of Alternative Learning Settings
- Port Hedland School of the Air
- Port Hedland Primary School
- South Hedland Primary School
- St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School
- Yandeyarra Remote Community School
- St Luke’s College
- St Paul’s Primary School
- Tambrey Primary School
- Dampier Primary School
- Paraburdoo Primary School
- Nullagine Primary School
- North Tom Price Primary School
- Tom Price Senior High School
- Roebourne District High School (including the Child and Parent Centre)
- Wickham Primary School
- Karratha Primary School
- Karratha School of Alternative Learning Settings
- Pegs Creek Primary School
- Karratha Senior High School
- Millars Well Primary School
- Baynton West Primary School
‘Good result’ for Port Hedland: Roger Cook
Roger Cook says TC Zelia made landfall about two hours ahead of time.
And it’s bringing major rainfall across the State over the weekend.
The Premier is receiving a constant stream of updates while campaigning in the Mid West.
“Basically, it’s gone further east than they expected, travelling faster than they expected, about two hours ahead of time,” Mr Cook said.
“It’s tracking in a south-southeasterly direction at around about 14km/h.”
The Bureau of Meteorology advised the Premier most of the wind gusts in Port Hedland right now are clocking above 140km/h.
“It’s a good outcome as far as that’s concerned, because we thought it was going to be much more significant (in Port Hedland) than that,” he said.
The massive weather system is expected to track further south-southeast, with the Goldfields expected to be inundated with heavy rainfall over the next few days.
While it’s still too early to get a full picture of the damage, Mr Cook classed the past four hours as a “good result” for the Town of Port Hedland.
The wind situation
Port Hedland is outside of the worst area for the most destructive winds, but boy is it windy around the eye of the storm.
Very destructive wind gusts up to 270km/h are likely within 30km of cyclone Zelia’s centre. Wind gusts near the centre will reduce this afternoon and tonight.
Destructive wind gusts up to 160km/h are likely in coastal areas between Port Hedland and Pardoo this afternoon extending to inland areas near the track tonight.
Gales with damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h are occurring along the coast between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland.
Damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h are also extending to inland areas, possibly including Marble Bar, Nullagine, or Tom Price and Paraburdoo, into Saturday morning.
City of Karratha reopens facilities
The City of Karratha is currently inspecting facilities and essential services as part of its transition towards reopening.
Karratha Airport and Karratha Indoor Play Centre are open, and ranger services are available.
But the Karratha Lesiureplex evacuation centre and all other facilites remain closed until further notice.
The Esplanade in Dampier is closed as well as local unsealed roads.
Kerbside bin collections will resume tomorrow, Saturday February 15.
Originally published on PerthNow
