Cyclone Zelia is set to make landfall early Friday evening on the northwest coast of Australia, bringing severe tropical cyclones with extremely dangerous winds of up to 205km/h and gusts as high as 290km/h. The storm has already dropped significant rain, causing local flooding and cutting rail lines.
Western Australia’s largest town, Port Hedland, is in the firing line, with strong winds expected to extend inland to areas such as Marble Bar, Tom Price, and Paraburdoo. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts “extremely dangerous” sustained winds that can flatten homes, trees, power lines, and other infrastructure.
The cyclone’s slow forward motion over the ocean and land means it will take longer to cross the coast, inflicting more damage from wind and storm surge, and dumping more rain. Conditions on the ground are rapidly deteriorating, with winds forecast to reach gale force by this afternoon.
A significant storm tide is also expected, which may lead to flooding and inundate coastal roads and properties. The cyclone will continue to trek inland over the weekend, gradually weakening as it goes, but strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding can still be expected hundreds of kilometres inland.
Residents in mining and Indigenous communities are advised to monitor the situation closely, with regular updates available online at www.emergency.wa.gov.au or through the Emergency WA app.
Source: https://theconversation.com/bracing-for-a-monster-tropical-cyclone-zelia-is-bearing-down-on-wa-heres-what-to-expect-249947