Forecasts today/Thursday have shifted the tracking of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia further down the Pilbara coastline, with Port Hedland potentially facing a direct hit from what is expected to be a Categoy 5 Tropical Cyclone – the highest on the level.

It’s a worst case scenario if this storm makes a direct hit with Port Hedland – we explain the variabilities and why the precise location of landfall may not be known until Friday morning.

Karratha to Port Hedland looks most exposed, as do parts of 80 Mile Beach. The cyclone is then likely to track inland through central parts of WA as it falls apart and turns into a rain event.

Winds may reach 290km/h at landfall.

Rainfall may be 2 or 3 times the annual amount for Port Hedland and surrounds in just a couple of days – but depends on the speed of ZELIA as the cyclone moves over land. We have the latest big picture forecast.

Don’t forget the Bureau of Meteorology is the official weather warnings provider for Western Australia – keep up to date with their warnings and watches in the days ahead as they will likely change as forecasts are fine tuned.