<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338193</docID> <postdate>2025-02-13 11:58:38</postdate> <headline>Cyclone set to impact coast as category five system</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-338194" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20230221001766372486-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="599" /></p> <caption>Port Hedland has shut down as Tropical Cyclone Zelia approached Western Australia's coast. (Aaron Bunch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Fraser Barton</strong></span></p> <p><strong>A rapidly intensifying cyclone is set to impact Australia as a destructive category five system.</strong></p> <p>Schools have been closed and roads set to be shut down as Western Australia's Pilbara coast braces for Tropical Cyclone Zelia.</p> <p>It was looming about 140km north of Port Hedland on Thursday after quickly developing into a category four system, with wind gusts of up to 250km/h.</p> <p>"We've seen rapid intensification of the cyclone overnight," the Bureau of Meteorology's Dean Narramore said.</p> <p>"We have a very organised and very intense tropical cyclone."</p> <p>Cyclone Zelia is set to impact the coast west of Port Hedland as a maximum category five system on Friday, bringing destructive winds and flash flooding.</p> <p>About a dozen schools have been shut with roads set to be closed including the Great Northern Highway in WA's northwest.</p> <p>A South Hedland evacuation centre has reportedly been set up with the cyclone expected to bring destructive wind gusts to Pilbara coast communities as it intensifies.</p> <p>"We're likely to see it start turning towards the WA coast as a category five system and at this stage crossing to the west of Port Hedland Friday afternoon into (the) evening," Mr Narramore said.</p> <p>"We could also see very destructive winds near the core of this system as it crosses late Friday into (the) night with winds up to 290 km/h possible."</p> <p>A cyclone warning has been issued for Bidyadanga to Dampier, including Port Hedland, Karratha and Dampier, and extending inland to Marble Bar.</p> <p>Areas of "most concern" are communities between Dampier and De Grey, particularly around Port Hedland with rainfall up to 90mm already recorded in the area.</p> <p>A cyclone "watch and act" warning has been issued for Eighty Mile Beach to Whim Creek and inland to Marble Bar.</p> <p>"There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a cyclone is approaching the area," the warning said.</p> <p>"You need to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone."</p> <p>Locals were warned to expect damaging to destructive winds between Whim Creek and Wallal Downs including Port Hedland from Thursday night, along with lots of rain.</p> <p>"We ... (are) likely to see widespread local to heavy intense rainfall with hundreds of millimetres, leading to flash and widespread riverine flooding," Mr Narramore said.</p> <p>Australia's largest iron ore port at Port Hedland was shut down on Wednesday and BHP paused non-essential travel to the town as the region braced for the incoming system.</p> <p>"People are stocking up at the supermarket on food and water, and tying down stuff around their homes," Port Hedland local Chris Ward told AAP.</p> <p>"The airport is getting busy too, FIFO workers are flying out.</p> <p>"Looks like it's going to be a wet and wild Valentine's Day."</p> <p>Authorities worked with retailers to ensure supplies were available to rural, Indigenous and isolated communities with additional on-the-ground personnel, flood boats and aircraft also deployed.</p> <p>Meanwhile, thunderstorms are forecast for parts of Victoria, NSW and Queensland on Thursday.</p> <p>A clean-up is continuing in north Queensland after record rainfall eased following almost two weeks of flooding that claimed two lives.</p> </body>