Cyclone Zelia (2025)

This article is about the 2025 Australian region tropical cyclone. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Zelia.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia

Cyclone Zelia at peak intensity
Meteorological history
Formed	7 February 2025
Dissipated	16 February 2025
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (BOM)
Highest winds	205 km/h (125 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	Unknown
Areas affected	Western Australia (particularly Kimberley and Pilbara)
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.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A tropical low, initially designated as 18U, formed on 7 February. It began tracking west-southwest, and gradual intensification ensued before being upgraded to a Category 1 system on 11 February, receiving the name Zelia. The storm then steadily intensified to become a Category 2 by the next morning. That night, the storm slowed, and began rapid intensification, to reach Category 4 status by 06:00 AWST on 13 February, and Category 5 status by 12:00 AWST that day. By this time, the JTWC would predict it to peak as a category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, however this would not happen. The storm then stalled, and began an eye-wall replacement cycle, causing the rapid-intensification phase to end. This EWRC failed, before restarting that night, and failing once again.

Satellite imagery animation of Cyclone Zelia on the morning of 14 February and made landfall later in the afternoon

Preparations and impact

Western Australia

In the state, more than a dozen schools were closed. Two evacuation centers would be opened due to the storm. Multiple highways were closed, while trade in the ports of Dampier and Varanus Island was postponed. A cyclone emergency warning was issued from Pardoo Roadhouse to Whim Creek.

See also

• Tropical cyclones in 2025
• Weather of 2025
• Cyclone Orson (1989) – took a similar path after landfall
• Cyclone George (2007) – took a similar path at a similar intensity
• Cyclone Veronica (2019) – took a similar path
• Cyclone Ilsa (2023) – impacted the same areas