Residents in Port Hedland and east to Wallal Downs are specifically warned of the potential of a dangerous storm tide as the the cyclone centre crosses the coast, with tides 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.
Some 21 schools in the region have been closed, including Baller Primary School, Hedland Senior High School, Karratha Primary School and Port Hedland Primary School.
The “extremely damaging” category five Tropical Cyclone Zelia has intensified its speed towards the Western Australian coastline, with the weather bureau warning it may bring 300km/hr winds and that it is now too late to leave.
Category five system is expected to bring extremely damaging and destructive winds, Bureau of Meteorology warns.
It comes as major roads across the area have been closed due to rising floodwaters, including Port Hedland Road, parts of the Great Northern Highway, Marble Bar Road and Ripon Hills Road.
