Cyclone Zelia Strikes Western Australia, With Evacuation No Longer Possible

Severe tropical cyclone Zelia struck Australia’s west coast on Friday, bringing powerful winds and record rainfall to the nation’s most resource-rich area. The storm made landfall on Western Australia’s Pilbara coast, about 65 km east of Port Hedland, shortly after 12 p.m. local time (4 a.m. GMT), as reported by Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
Zelia rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm, with wind speeds reaching up to 290 km/h (180 mph) and moving faster than anticipated at 11 km/h. By 2 p.m., the storm began heading south and weakened slightly to Category 4, but authorities warned that the threat was still serious.
The warning zone stretched from Wallal Downs to Whim Creek, where residents were dealing with fierce winds, power outages, and shortages of essential supplies. At least 124 people sought shelter in evacuation centers in Port Hedland and Karratha. Port Hedland, home to 15,000 people, narrowly avoided the storm’s centre.
Authorities had earlier urged people to take shelter in the safest part of their homes, saying it was now too late to evacuate. “There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately. Shelter indoors now. It is too late to leave,” said Darren Klemm, commissioner of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
The Bureau of Meteorology warned of heavy rainfall, expecting up to 300mm (11.8 inches) within the next 24 hours and a total of up to 500mm over three days. Several rivers, including the De Grey River, faced a high risk of severe flooding. “This is a very dangerous system that will cause significant impact,” said BoM forecaster Matthew Collopy. Meteorologist Angus Hines called the storm “catastrophic,” explaining that Category 5 is the highest level, with extreme winds, widespread rain, flooding, and storm surges all predicted.
Cyclone Zelia has disrupted Australia’s iron ore exports, forcing the closure of major ports and mining operations in the Pilbara region. Port Hedland, the world’s largest iron ore export terminal, shut down on Wednesday. Mining giants like BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, and Hancock halted operations, advising staff to shelter. “The company is working to mitigate impacts and will provide operational updates as appropriate,” Rio Tinto stated. Fortescue paused activities at its Iron Bridge mining site, while BHP confirmed its personnel in Port Hedland were sheltering in Category 5-rated facilities. Dampier, Cape Lambert, and Varanus Island ports, key for iron ore and gas exports, also closed on Thursday.
Cyclone Zelia escalated from Category 3 to Category 5 within just 24 hours. In recent years, such rapid intensification of tropical storms in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans has become more common due to warming ocean waters. “The elevated sea surface temperatures are contributing to the intensity, as they add more moisture to the atmosphere, which can lead to flash flooding when Zelia reaches the coast,” said climate expert Professor David Karoly.