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
TC Zelia crosses coast as category four
Port Hedland has been spared from the destructive core of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia, which made landfall as a category four system northeast of the WA town.
It crossed the coast near the De Grey river mouth at 12.30pm on Friday.
Very destructive wind gusts of up to 270km/h and intense rainfall are likely close to the centre of the cyclone.
The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the cyclone will “take a general southerly track overland and weaken”.
Premier expecting major damage across ‘older architecture’ of Port Hedland
The premier is receiving hourly updates, as WA’s north braces for the impact of cyclone Zelia with the latest information raising hopes it could miss Port Hedland.
Roger Cook is on the election campaign trail in Geraldton, but has briefed the Prime Minister on the cyclone threat.
The Defence Force has been put on standby to assist with any clean-up.
“This is a really dangerous and big cyclone, and it’s one which is going to threaten the communities right across the Pilbara,” Mr Cook said.
“In particular our hearts go out to the people of Port Hedland, they’ve been in lockdown since 6.30 last night.
“This is a serious storm and it’s one which is going to have a significant impact.”
Port operations have been suspended, but Mr Cook said the biggest concern is around civil infrastructure.
“Port Hedland is by and large older architecture,” he said.
“So it was built to a standard, but to a standard at the time that it was built. And so we’re expecting a certain amount of damage to them to occur as a result of these very high winds.”
‘STAY INDOORS’: DFES Commissioner
DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm says it is “extremely important” people remain indoors until warnings change.
He said the risks will not subside even when the cyclone reduces in category.
“If the matter is life threatening you should call triple-0”
DFES has already received 37 calls for assistance in the last two days.
Heavy rain recorded
The core of the cyclone is currently crossing east of Port Hedland, says the weather general manager environmental prediction services Matthew Collopy.
Downpours of up to 300mm have already been recorded.
LIVE UPDATE FROM DFES
When you should call SES
Lucky escape for Port Hedland
The town will avoid the very destructive core of the cyclone.
DFES in force on the ground, Horizon Power reminder
There are dedicated Department of Fire and Emergency Services Incident Management Teams in the Pilbara and Kimberley working with communities to help keep people safe.
They’re liasing with retail suppliers, transporters and other stakeholders to plan resupply if needed.
DFES has sent extra personnel and resources to the regions, supported by the DFES State Operations Centre in Perth.
More than 10,000 sandbags have been handed out in the Pilbara to help people prepare their properties.
Horizon Power says it has teams on standby ready and contingency plans in place, reminding everyone to keep at least 10m away from fallen power lines – about the length of a big bus.
The utility asked people to continue reporting all electrical damage, power faults and outages in Aboriginal communities.
If your community is serviced by:
- KRSP – phone 1800 635 641
- PMM – phone 1800 635 641
- Ngaanyatjarra Services – phone 0409 008 836
For all other Aboriginal communities serviced by Horizon Power, phone 132 351.
Zelia is here early!
Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is about to make landfall hours earlier than expected.
The BoM issues updated advice at 11.46am saying the category five system will cross the coast near DeGrey River mouth east of Port Hedland.
‘Getting pretty scary’
A First Nations chef has taken to his social media to update his thousands of followers with what will be his “last video of the day” before he bunkers down at home in the Pilbara.
Zach Green told his TikTok followers he hoped they would keep his family in their prayers as cyclone Zelia encroaches on the region.
“It’s getting pretty scary at the moment, cat(egory) five, no one really wants to be in it,” he said in a video that showed the stormy weather.
https://www.tiktok.com/@storytellerchef/video/7471061412916284680?q=cyclone%20zelia&t=1739497882517
“This will be the last video until I have to bunker down with the kids in the hallway.
“Keep us in your prayers and hopefully, not hopefully, we’ll see you on the other side in the next 24 hrs.
“If you don’t hear from us in the next 24 hours, we might have lost our signal, and towers might have been destroyed.”
Green’s partner is well-known Aboriginal artist Bobbi Lockyer who said while her family is prepared for the worst, they “are a bit scared”.
Originally published on PerthNow
