A rapidly intensifying cyclone is set to impact Australia as a destructive category five system.
Schools have been closed and roads set to be shut down as Western Australia’s Pilbara coast braces for Tropical Cyclone Zelia.
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.
“We’ve seen rapid intensification of the cyclone overnight,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Dean Narramore said.
“We have a very organised and very intense tropical cyclone.”
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.
About a dozen schools have been shut with roads set to be closed including the Great Northern Highway in WA’s northwest.
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.
“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.
“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.”
A cyclone warning has been issued for Bidyadanga to Dampier, including Port Hedland, Karratha and Dampier, and extending inland to Marble Bar.
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.
A cyclone “watch and act” warning has been issued for Eighty Mile Beach to Whim Creek and inland to Marble Bar.
“There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a cyclone is approaching the area,” the warning said.
“You need to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.”
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.
“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.
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.
“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.
“The airport is getting busy too, FIFO workers are flying out.
“Looks like it’s going to be a wet and wild Valentine’s Day.”
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.
Meanwhile, thunderstorms are forecast for parts of Victoria, NSW and Queensland on Thursday.
A clean-up is continuing in north Queensland after record rainfall eased following almost two weeks of flooding that claimed two lives.
This post was originally published on Michael West.