SES Hedland Hedland State Emergency Service 
TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST TRACK MAP
Tropical Cyclone Zelia 18U
Screenshot
Community Threat
- Warning Zone
Gales within 24 hours - Watch Zone
Gales from 24-48 hours
Forecast Cyclone Details
(Up to 72 hours from time of issue)
The forecast path shown above is the Bureau’s best estimate of the cyclone’s future movement and intensity. There is always some uncertainty associated with tropical cyclone forecasting and the grey zone indicates the range of likely tracks of the cyclone centre.
Due to the uncertainty in the future movement, the indicated winds will almost certainly extend to regions outside the rings on this map. The extent of the warning and watch zones reflects this.
This product is designed for land-based communities; mariners should read the coastal waters and high seas warnings.
Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology /
IDW24200
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre
Media: The Standard Emergency Warning Signal should NOT be used with this warning.
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 23
Issued at 5:42 pm WST on Wednesday 12 February 2025
Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Zelia intensifying north of Port Hedland, likely to impact the Pilbara coast.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Bidyadanga to Dampier, including Port Hedland, Karratha and Dampier, and extending inland to Marble Bar
Watch Zone
Dampier to Mardie and inland areas to Nullagine
Cancelled Zone
None.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Zelia 18U at 5:00 pm AWST:
Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 100 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 140 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 30 kilometres of 19.0 degrees South 118.6 degrees East, estimated to be 145 kilometres north of Port Hedland and 150 kilometres north northwest of De Grey.
Movement: southwest at 13 kilometres per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Zelia (Category 2) is located to the north of Port Hedland and is intensifying. Zelia is likely to be slow moving over the next one to two days and is expected to develop further to Category 3 intensity. Zelia could bring destructive wind gusts to communities on the Pilbara coast from Thursday. However, there is great uncertainty as to where and when the very destructive inner core of the cyclone will cross the coast. Zelia could cross the east Pilbara coast on Friday or it could move further west and cross the west Pilbara coast on Saturday.
Hazards:
Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are developing near the coastal fringe between De Grey and Walla Downs. Overnight these may extend to areas along the coast between Bidyadanga and Dampier, including Port Hedland and Karratha. These DAMAGING WIND GUSTS may extend west to Mardie from late Thursday, if the system moves further west. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour may also extend inland to Nullagine during Friday.
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 160 kilometres per hour may develop between Whim Creek to Wallal Downs on Thursday as Zelia moves closer to the coast. Alternatively, DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS may be delayed until late Thursday or early Friday and occur between De Grey and Mardie, if the system remains off the coast and moves further west.
VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 220 kilometres per hour may occur close to the centre of the cyclone as it crosses the coast.
HEAVY to LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely from later Wednesday across coastal and adjacent inland areas between Whim Creek and Wallal Downs. Otherwise isolated HEAVY RAINFALL is forecast along the coast between Bidyadanga and Dampier, and extending inland to Nullagine during Thursday. A Flood Watch is also current for catchments in the Pilbara and western Kimberley.
Residents between Karratha and Bidyadanga are specifically warned of the potential of a dangerous storm tide as the cyclone centre crosses the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with damaging waves and dangerous flooding of some low-lying areas close to the shoreline.
Recommended Action:
Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app.
Next Advice:
The next advice will be issued by 9:00 pm AWST Wednesday 12 February.
Cyclone advices and DFES Alerts are available by dialling 13 DFES (13 3337)
A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone
REF:
Come join us @ Hedland State Emergency Service Facebook page