Cyclone Zelia: Flood warnings issued as system weakens to tropical low

Zelia herself may have been fleeting, but the damage left in her wake may take up to a week to materialise.

The weather system, which made landfall on Friday as a category four cyclone, has triggered major flooding despite weakening to a tropical low early Saturday as it moved further inland from the Pilbara coast.

Zelia narrowly missed Port Hedland in a stroke of luck for residents, but Premier Roger Cook said the area was “not quite out of the woods yet”.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has fielded nearly 100 requests for assistance across the Pilbara since Friday, the majority of which were for fallen trees.

Authorities said they expect it may take up to a week for river levels to peak due to heavy rainfall and flooding. It prompted a swift evacuation of Warralong, a remote Aboriginal community about 110km south-east of Port Hedland.

Two Sikorsky S92 helicopters each made two trips to pick up 60 community members, who have been relocated to the JD Hardie Community Centre in South Hedland.

Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said further evacuations could be expected throughout the week as river levels continued their rapid rise.

The Coongan River near Marble Bar peaked at 10.2m, nearly 2m above the previous record.

“While the cyclone has passed, we’re asking the community to stay alert, because the heavy rain and record flooding in parts of the Pilbara is still occurring,” Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm said.

“Major flooding isn’t expected to subside until mid-next week, so conditions are still dangerous.”

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the strongest winds hit remote parts of the Pilbara, with nearby gauges in Port Hedland recording winds of 120km/h.

“Large trees were uprooted and there was damage to property through these areas, especially around Port Hedland,” Mr Hines said.

Carlindie Station, about 75km south-east of Port Hedland, was one of the worst-hit properties, with a Facebook post revealing caretakers Kellie and Bill Jackman “have lost everything”.

Ash Tiller, a friend of the Jackmans, said the family had “been through hell” after the cyclone system tore through the station, destroying everything in its path.

“(The Jackmans) have lost everything and are awaiting SES to give them support,” Ms Tiller said. “They are all safe and just absolutely devastated, nothing is salvageable.”, they have nothing left, not even the cars.”

Mr Hines also confirmed Weather stations logged record-breaking rain, with De Grey recording 580.4mm in three days — well above the last record of 435mm in 1988.

Pardoo Station recorded 518.2mm in the same time frame, while Telfer recorded 93mm in just one hour.

“This is exceptionally rare for that location and that part of the world,” Mr Hines said.

Flood warnings are in place for the Fortescue, Ashburton and Gascoyne rivers, Pilbara coastal rivers, the De Grey River catchment and the Sandy Desert.

The State Emergency Service is State Emergency Services are co-ordinating relief efforts, ensuring displaced families receive essential supplies.

But Broome locals were met with empty shelves on Saturday due to disrupted supply chains, with both Coles and Woolworths short of essentials including fresh produce and meat, and no clear timeline for restocking.

With major road routes still impacted, it may take several days before supplies return to normal.

Town of Port Hedland mayor Peter Carter said had the cyclone shifted just 30km closer, the impact could have been far worse, adding: “Cyclones are mystery beasts, they can twist and turn and do what this one did.”

The mayor reminded the community to be careful of fallen tree and debris as clean-up efforts are underway.

Pilbara Ports said the Port of Port Hedland would remain closed until it’s deemed safe.

“Port infrastructure is designed with cyclonic activity in mind and Pilbara Ports will assess the port extensively following Tropical Cyclone Zelia before resuming port operations,” it said.

The ports of Dampier and Varanus Island have reopened this afternoon.