Cyclone Zelia
Zelia near its peak intensity on 13 February | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 8 February 2025 |
| Dissipated | 14 February 2025 |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (BOM) | |
| Highest winds | 215 km/h (130 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 927 hPa (mbar); 27.37 inHg |
| Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 240 km/h (150 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 926 hPa (mbar); 27.34 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | $733 million (2025 USD) |
| Areas affected | Western Australia (particularly Kimberley and Pilbara) |
| IBTrACS | |
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. The tropical low began to organize while slowly moving westward and was later upgraded to Cyclone Zelia. Zelia turned to the southwest and began to rapidly intensify. The cyclone then peaked with 1-minute maximum sustained winds of 130 kn (240 km/h; 150 mph). Zelia then began to gradually weaken while turning southeast toward the coast of Western Australia and made landfall with 10-minute maximum sustained winds of 95 kn (175 km/h; 110 mph). As Zelia continued to track inland, it rapidly weakened to a tropical low and dissipated.
Zelia caused major damage. Several areas were flooded and strong winds damaged multiple structures. Economic losses totaled to US$733 million. Despite the severity of the damage, no deaths were reported.