Towns across the Pilbara Coast have started picking up the pieces in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Zelia, however continued road closures threaten the accessibility to communities and delays to supply chains.
Port Hedland has since reopened and resumed operations. The key port has now already been closed for four days in 2025, with its three days of closure caused by Zelia preceded by one day of closure due to the presence of Tropical Cyclone Sean off the Western Australian coast in January.
Zelia made landfall as a category 4 system on Friday afternoon after elevating to as high as a category five in the hours before it lashed the Pilbara coast.
Port Hedland itself largely escaped unscathed from the storm, which landed near the De Grey River almost 60 kilometres north-east of the regional hub.
As of Monday morning, key roads across the region remain closed as a result of flooding and damage caused by Zelia, including large sections of Marble Bar Road, Ripon Hills Road and the Great Northern Highway.
The Great Northern Highway remains closed between Buttweld Road and Sandfire and the Roebuck Turn Off and Sandfire Roadhouse due to flooding.
Marble Bar Road remains closed between Port Hedland and Jigalong, while Ripon Hills Road is closed between Marble Bar Road and the Telfer Mine Turn Off.
Zelia dumped almost 600mm of rain on De Gray, while Pardoo experienced over 300mm of downpour.
Those in the impacted areas are reminded to remain vigilant of the risks present in the aftermath of the storm, including damaged buildings, fallen power lines, flooding and debris.
Live updates of road closures caused by Tropical Cyclone Zelia are available through Main Roads WA.
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