The Rapid Intensification of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia has intensified from category one to category five in just over 24 hours due to warm sea temperatures and limited movement caused by competing atmospheric ridges. Expected to make landfall today, the cyclone poses significant dangers, including destructive winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is poised to impact Western Australia’s Pilbara coast with destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, categorized as a category five cyclone. Remarkably, this system intensified from a category one to category five in just over 24 hours, raising questions about the causes behind its rapid escalation.

The rapid intensity of Cyclone Zelia can be attributed to several significant factors. Primarily, it has been harnessing energy from exceptionally warm water off the coast of Western Australia, with temperatures hovering around 30 to 31°C, and exceeding 32°C closer to the shore, providing ample fuel for the cyclone.

Additionally, Zelia’s minimal movement in the past 48 hours has played a crucial role. Influenced by two competing atmospheric ridges, the cyclone has struggled to shift, stalling approximately 140 km north of Port Hedland. This stagnation has allowed the cyclone to remain in a conducive environment for intensification, which could have been reduced had it moved toward the coast more swiftly.

As of Friday morning, Zelia has begun to shift south-southeast and is expected to make landfall later that day, likely near Port Hedland. The cyclone is anticipated to bring hazardous weather conditions, including wind gusts up to 190 km/h and significant rain, leading to flooding and storm surges. Following landfall, it will weaken but still pose risks to inland regions into Saturday.

In conclusion, Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia’s rapid intensification is driven by warm ocean waters and stalling atmospheric conditions. Despite its swift transition from a category one to a category five cyclone, the storm’s slow movement facilitated energy absorption, allowing it to maintain strength until landfall. Residents of the Pilbara region must prepare for extreme weather as Zelia approaches.

Original Source: www.weatherzone.com.au

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