The latest storm news from the New York Times said that Typhoon Zelia made landfall in northwestern Australia, bringing heavy rain and strong winds, destroying a sparsely populated area of Australia, which has many important ports and mineral mines for the global economy.
As a result of the impact of Typhoon Zelia, authorities have ordered residents to stay indoors. Australian meteorologists said that typhoon Zelia made landfall at 12:30 on February 14. The storm made landfall 55 km northeast of Port hedland.
Port hedland is an urban area of about 15,000 people in the pilbara region, a desert with some of the world's largest iron ore mines.
The latest hurricane forecast from the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said that Typhoon Zelia has winds of up to 212 km/h, equivalent to a strong Category 4 storm in the Atlantic. Before making landfall in Australia, Typhoon Zelia had strengthened into a Category 5 super typhoon, the highest level.
As a result of Typhoon Zelia, a tropical storm warning is in effect from Wallal Downs to Roebourne, about 240 km from Port hedland. Heavy rain, flash floods and gusts of wind in this area reached 160 km/h.
Ms. Miriam Bradbury - a meteorologist at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology - said that there is a forecast of heavy rain in this area. Winds near the center of Zelia are forecast to reach 290 km/h, strong enough to destroy trees and solid structures.
On 14 February, Australian authorities ordered people in Port hedland and surrounding areas to seek shelter, while urging people to stay away from doors and windows. Local authorities have also closed dozens of schools and roads in areas at risk of flooding.
port hedland is expected to avoid the center of the storm with terrible destructive power, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology stated in the Zelia landfall bulletin.
Major Australian ports in the pilbara region are also preparing to respond to Typhoon Zelia. pilbara is the world's largest iron ore exporter, providing nearly 40% of global supply. Port hedland closed on February 12, the port of Dampier, where Rio Tinto is used, and the port of Varanus Island - another oil and fuel treatment center, closed on February 13.
Mr. Bradbury said that Typhoon Zelia is likely to weaken as it moves inland over the weekend, but heavy rain is forecast as the storm moves south.
