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Cyclone Zelia (2025)

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This article is about the 2025 Australian region tropical cyclone. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Zelia.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia
Zelia at its peak intensity on 13 February
Meteorological history
Formed7 February 2025
Dissipated15 February 2025
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (BOM)
Highest winds215 km/h (130 mph)
Lowest pressure927 hPa (mbar); 27.37 inHg
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds240 km/h (150 mph)
Lowest pressure926 hPa (mbar); 27.34 inHg
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
Damage$733 million (2025 USD)[1]
Areas affectedWestern Australia (particularly Kimberley and Pilbara)
Part of the 2024–25 Australian region cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia was a powerful tropical cyclone that impacted Western Australia's Pilbara region in mid-February 2025. The fifteenth tropical low, fifth tropical cyclone, fourth severe tropical cyclone, and first Category 5 tropical cyclone of the 2024–25 Australian region cyclone season, Zelia originated as a tropical low near the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Meteorological history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A tropical low, initially designated as 18U, formed on 7 February, near the Kimberley region. The system tracked west-southwest with no significant development in the coming days.[citation needed] Deep convection increased over the southwest quadrant of the center, and the system turned to the south-southwest as steered mid-level ridge to the east on 11 February.[2] Despite deep convection was sheared to the southwest due to wind shear, persistent gale-force winds were observed to the west of the center, which prompted the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) to upgraded the system to a Category 1 tropical cyclone and assigned the name Zelia later that day.[3] Benefit from very warm waters of 31 °C (88 °F) and good outflow and divergence, Zelia strengthened to a Category 2 tropical cyclone at 06:00 UTC on 12 February. Zelia also reduced its motion to the south as it entered a weak steering environment.[4]

Satellite imagery animation of Cyclone Zelia on the morning of 14 February and made landfall later in the afternoon

As wind shear decreased, Zelia began a period of rapid intensification, and the BoM upgraded it to a high-end Category 3 severe tropical cyclone later that day while the JTWC upgraded it to a Category 3 tropical cyclone with 1-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph). Situated between two anticyclones, Zelia continued to move slowly and drifted slightly westward.[5] At 00:00 UTC on 13 February, the BoM upgraded Zelia to a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone,[6] while the JTWC estimated it to have attained its peak intensity with 1-minute sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph). Radar imagery indicated that Zelia underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, but it didn't manage to complete it before making landfall.[7] At 00:00 UTC on 14 February, Zelia attained peak intensity with sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) and a barometric pressure of 927 hPa (27.37 inHg) by the Bureau of Meteorology but the JTWC said that it weakened to .[8] At 12:30 p.m. AWST (04:30 UTC), Zelia made landfall as a Category 4 cyclone, near De Grey, or 55 km (34 mi) northeast of Port Hedland.[9] Zelia quickly weakened after landfall, and it dropped below tropical cyclone intensity later that day.[10] Due to the sparsity of land-based radar systems in the Pilbara, no official measurement beyond a wind gust of 120km/ph at Port Hedland was recorded on land.

Preparations and impact

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Costliest Australian region tropical cyclones
Rank Tropical cyclones Season Damage
1  4  Yasi 2010–11 $3.6 billion
2  4  Debbie 2016–17 $2.73 billion
3  TS  Oswald 2012–13 $2.52 billion
4  4  Veronica 2018–19 $1.2 billion
5  5  Ita 2013–14 $1.15 billion
6  4  Larry 2005–06 $1.1 billion
7  4  Alfred 2024–25 $820 million
8  4  Zelia 2024–25 $733 million
9  4  Jasper 2023–24 $670 million
10  3  Tracy 1974–75 $645 million

Western Australia

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In the state, more than a dozen schools were closed. Two evacuation centers would be opened due to the storm. Multiple highways were closed, while trade in the ports of Dampier and Varanus Island was postponed.[11] A cyclone emergency warning was issued from Pardoo Roadhouse to Whim Creek.[12] Dozens of people were being evacuated from remote communities, with helicopters having airlifted 63 people from Warralong, 120km south-east of Port Headland. 13 people from Gooda Binya community self-evacuated overnight to a civic centre at Marble Bar. A major flood warning was issued for the De Grey River catchment, including nearby towns.[13]

Zelia made landfall near De Grey River, northeast of Port Hedland, causing $733 million USD damage worth of economic losses in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions, specifically causing damage in Port Hedland. Rainfall and flooding caused major impacts, especially at De Gray and Pardoo stations, receiving over 500mm of total rainfall lasing 3 days. The cyclone brought heavy rain and damaging winds near Port Headland, causing flash flooding, prompting evacuation in the Gooda Binya and Warralong communities during the floods. The storm caused significant damage to houses, powerlines and disrupted road access. Zelia also prompted closures of ports at Port Headland, Cape Lambert and Dampier for three days, disrupting shipping and offshore oil and gas operations resulted in major economic costs to industry.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Major port reopens amid fears Zelia will cost economy billions". ABC News. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia - Western Region". Bureau of Meteorology. 11 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia - Western Region". Bureau of Meteorology. 11 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  4. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia - Western Region". Bureau of Meteorology. 12 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia - Western Region". Bureau of Meteorology. 12 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia - Western Region". Bureau of Meteorology. 13 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  7. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia - Western Region". Bureau of Meteorology. 13 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia - Western Region". Bureau of Meteorology. 14 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  9. ^ Yoon, John (14 February 2025). "Tropical Cyclone Zelia Makes Landfall in Northwest Australia". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia - Western Region". Bureau of Meteorology. 14 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  11. ^ "Australia braces for 'very destructive winds' as Category 5 cyclone nears landfall". NBC News. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  12. ^ Sarkari, Karishma; Glover, April; Sharma, Yashee (14 February 2025). "Winds intensify as category 5 Tropical Cyclone Zelia approaches WA". 9News.
  13. ^ "Ex-tropical cyclone Zelia causes 'significant' damage to De Grey station as remote communities evacuated". ABC News. 15 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  14. ^ "Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia". Bureau of Meteorology. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
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