Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Tropical Cyclone Advice For Western Australia
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

Media: Transmitters serving the area between De Grey and Roebourne are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning.

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 41
Issued at 11:46 AM WST on Friday 14 February 2025

Headline:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia about to make landfall near DeGrey River mouth east of Port Hedland. Port Hedland to avoid the very destructive core of the cyclone.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Wallal Downs to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland, and extending inland to Marble Bar, Nullagine, Tom Price and Paraburdoo .

Watch zone: None.

Cancelled zone: Roebourne to Whim Creek and inland to Millstream .

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia 18U at 12:00 pm AWST:
Intensity: Category 5, sustained winds near the centre of 205 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 285 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 20 kilometres of 19.9 degrees South 119.0 degrees East, estimated to be 65 kilometres northeast of Port Hedland and 165 kilometres north northwest of Marble Bar.
Movement: southeast at 11 kilometres per hour.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia (category 5) is about to make landfall near DeGrey River mouth to the east of Port Hedland. Zelia will then take a general southerly track overland and weaken. Intense rainfall is expected near and to the east of the centre of the cyclone as it crosses the coast.

Hazards:
VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 290 kilometres per hour are likely close to the centre of the cyclone as it crosses the coast but Port Hedland lies outside this region. DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 160 kilometres per hour are likely in coastal areas between Port Hedland and Pardoo this afternoon extending to the adjacent inland areas this evening. Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are occurring on the coast between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour and to extend to inland areas, possibly including Marble Bar, Nullagine, or Tom Price and Paraburdoo, from early Saturday. HEAVY to LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely today across coastal and adjacent inland areas between Wallal Downs and Whim Creek, extending inland to Nullagine and Tom Price by early Saturday. Flood Watches and Warnings are also current for catchments in the Pilbara, western Kimberley and northern Gascoyne. Go to www.bom.gov.au/wa/warnings for further details. Residents in Port Hedland and east to Wallal Downs are specifically warned of the potential of a DANGEROUS STORM TIDE as the cyclone centre crosses the coast. However, the more recent motion to the southeast decreases the risk of the storm tide at Port Hedland for the noon high today. 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.

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

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia
This Flood Watch provides early advice of possible flooding within the specified catchments.

Flood Watch For The Onslow Coast, Fortescue, Ashburton, Gascoyne, De Grey Rivers And Parts Of Sandy Desert Catchments
Issued at 11:08 AM WST on Friday 14 February 2025
Flood Watch Number: 8
"Re-issued to add the lower parts of the De Grey River catchment to Flood Watch area"
HEAVY TO LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE ZELIA IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE RAPID RIVER LEVEL RISES AND WIDESPREAD AREAS OF FLOODING FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is expected to make landfall just east of Port Hedland Friday afternoon. Heavy rainfall is expected along the coast and adjacent inland areas during Friday. Rainfall will become intense near and to the east of the centre of the cyclone as it crosses the coast. This rainfall will cause rapid river level rises and widespread flooding across the flood watch area.
A Tropical Cyclone Advice is current for Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia.
Flood warning are also current for the De Grey River and Pilbara Coastal Rivers catchments.
Catchments across the Flood Watch area, particularly towards the coast, have become wet with recent rainfall.
Widespread heavy to locally intense rainfall is forecast during Friday across coastal and adjacent inland areas, extending to further inland in the the Flood Watch area during the weekend.
The areas of heaviest rainfall will be dependent of the track of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia.
Forecast rainfall is expected to result in widespread areas of flooding and rapid river and stream level rises across the Flood Watch area. Areas of flooding may adversely affect road conditions and some communities may become isolated. Significant disruption of transportation network and extensive road closures are possible.

Catchments likely to be affected include:
De Grey River
Fortescue River
Onslow Coast
Ashburton River
Gascoyne River
Sandy Desert

This flood watch is available by dialling 1300 659 213. For more information on the Flood Watch Service visit http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml

Flood Safety Advice:
Current river levels are available from Department of Water and Environmental Regulation at www.water.wa.gov.au/maps-and-data/monitoring/river-level-monitoring
DFES advises people and communities to be aware that flooding is possible and be prepared to relocate equipment and livestock. Watch water levels. Travellers need to be aware that road conditions may be adversely affected and travel plans may need to be reconsidered. Do not drive into water of unknown depth and velocity.
Community information is available from DFES at www.emergency.wa.gov.au/}

Next issue:
The next Flood Watch will be issued by 11:00 am WST on Saturday 15 February 2025.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia

Flood Warning For The Pilbara Coastal Rivers
Issued at 10:57 AM WST on Friday 14 February 2025
Flood Warning Number: 2

WIDESPREAD FLOODING EXPECTED ACROSS THE PILBARA COASTAL RIVERS CATCHMENT THROUGH TO THE WEEKEND
Heavy rainfall has been observed in parts of the Pilbara Coast Rivers catchment since Wednesday morning, heaviest about the coast. Further locally heavy to intense rainfall is forecast for the remainder of Friday and into the weekend, associated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia.
Rapid river level rises and areas of widespread flooding are expected to develop across the Pilbara Coastal Rivers catchments from Friday afternoon through to the weekend.
A Flood Watch is current for the Fortescue River, Onslow Coast, Ashburton River, Gascoyne River and parts of the Sandy Desert catchment.
A Tropical Cyclone Advice is current for Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia.

Pilbara Coastal Rivers:
Rapid river level rises and areas of flooding may adversely affect road conditions and some communities may become isolated across the Pilbara Coastal Rivers catchment. Significant disruption of transportation network and extensive road closures are possible.

Flood Safety Advice:
DFES advises people and communities to be aware that flooding is possible and be prepared to relocate equipment and livestock. Watch water levels. Travellers need to be aware that road conditions may be adversely affected and travel plans may need to be reconsidered. Do not drive into water of unknown depth and velocity.}
Community information is available from DFES at www.dfes.wa.gov.au
Current river levels are available from Department of Water and Environmental Regulation at www.water.wa.gov.au/maps-and-data/monitoring/river-level-monitoring
Check current road conditions at www.mainroads.wa.gov.au

Next issue:
The next warning will be issued by 11:00 am WST on Saturday 15 February 2025.

Latest River Heights:
Yule River at Jelliabidina Well,-0.13,Steady,09:00 AM FRI 14/02/25
Turner River at Pincunah,0.42,Steady,09:05 AM FRI 14/02/25

This advice is also available by dialling 1300 659 210. Warning, rainfall and river information are available at www.bom.gov.au/wa/flood. The latest weather forecast is available at www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia

Moderate Flood Warning For The De Grey River Catchment
Issued at 10:48 AM WST on Friday 14 February 2025
Flood Warning Number: 3

MODERATE FLOODING POSSIBLE AT COOLENAR POOL OVERNIGHT FRIDAY
MINOR FLOODING LIKELY AT COOLENAR POOL FRIDAY EVENING
Heavy rainfall has been observed from Wednesday across the De Grey River catchment, heaviest about the coast. Heavy to intense rainfall is forecast during Friday and into the weekend across the region, associated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia.
This rainfall combined with relatively wet catchment conditions is likely to cause riverine flooding along the De Grey River and its tributaries from Friday evening through to the weekend.
River level rises and areas of flooding may adversely affect road conditions. Some roads may become impassable and communities may become isolated. Significant disruption of transportation network and extensive road closures are expected.
A Flood Watch is current for the Fortescue River, Onslow Coast, Ashburton River, Gascoyne River and parts of the Sandy Desert catchment.
A Tropical Cyclone Advice is current for Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia.
The situation is being monitored closely and warnings will be updated as required.

Oakover River:
Minor flooding is occurring at Ripon Hills Road. Further river level rises and areas of flooding are likely along the Oakover River.
Nullagine River:
Minor flooding is occurring at Tumbinna Pool. Further river level rises and areas of flooding are likely along the Nullagine River.
Coongan River:
Minor flooding is occurring at Marble Bar. Further river level rises and areas of flooding are likely along the Coongan River.
Shaw River:
River level rises and areas of flooding are likely along the Shaw River from Friday afternoon.
De Grey River:
Moderate flooding may occur along the De Grey River.
The De Grey River at Coolenar Pool is currently at 2.96 metres and rising, below the minor flood level (5.50 m).
The De Grey River at Coolenar Pool is likely to exceed the minor flood level Friday evening. The river level may reach the moderate flood level (6.00 m) overnight Friday into Saturday. Further river level rises are possible with forecast rainfall.

Flood Safety Advice:
DFES advises people and communities to be aware that flooding is possible and be prepared to relocate equipment and livestock. Watch water levels. Travellers need to be aware that road conditions may be adversely affected and travel plans may need to be reconsidered. Do not drive into water of unknown depth and velocity.}
Community information is available from DFES at www.dfes.wa.gov.au
Current river levels are available from Department of Water and Environmental Regulation at www.water.wa.gov.au/maps-and-data/monitoring/river-level-monitoring

Next issue:
The next warning will be issued by 11:00 am WST on Saturday 15 February 2025.

Latest River Heights:
Oakover River at Ripon Hills Road,3.27,Rising,10:05 AM FRI 14/02/25
Nullagine River at Nullagine,0.78,Steady,10:00 AM FRI 14/02/25
Nullagine River at Tumbinna Pool,3.27,Rising,10:05 AM FRI 14/02/25
Coongan River at Marble Bar,1.61,Steady,10:00 AM FRI 14/02/25
Coongan River at Marble Bar Rd Crossing,1.37,Steady,10:05 AM FRI 14/02/25
Shaw River at Marble Bar Road Crossing,1.03,Steady,10:05 AM FRI 14/02/25
De Grey River at Coolenar Pool,2.96,Rising,10:00 AM FRI 14/02/25

This advice is also available by dialling 1300 659 210. Warning, rainfall and river information are available at www.bom.gov.au/wa/flood. The latest weather forecast is available at www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia

Marine Wind Warning Summary for Western Australia

Issued at 10:00 AM WST on Friday 14 February 2025
for the period until midnight WST Saturday 15 February 2025

Wind Warnings for Friday 14 February
Hurricane Force Wind Warning for the following areas:
Pilbara Coast East
Strong Wind Warning for the following areas:
West Kimberley Coast, Ningaloo Coast, Gascoyne Coast, Geraldton Coast, Bunbury Geographe Coast and Leeuwin Coast
Cancellation for the following areas:
Lancelin Coast and Perth Coast

Wind Warnings for Saturday 15 February
Gale Warning for the following areas:
Pilbara Coast East
Strong Wind Warning for the following areas:
Esperance Coast
Cancellation for the following areas:
Pilbara Coast West and Gascoyne Coast

The next marine wind warning summary will be issued by 4:00 pm WST Friday.
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Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecast or Local
Waters Forecast at http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/map.shtml for information on wind,
wave and weather conditions for these coastal zones.
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