Weatherwatch: Cyclone Zelia brings 130mph winds to north-west Australia​on February 17, 2025 at 10:37 am

Tropical cyclone first to make landfall this year, while a winter storm causes extreme cold across north-eastern USCyclone Zelia became the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in 2025, hitting north-west Australia on Valentine’s Day as a category 4 system. It brought damaging winds of 130mph and heavy rainfall, with 440mm of rain falling in two days. Prior to landfall, Zelia affected southern Indonesia, including Bali, with winds of more than 45mph. The storm weakened into a tropical low by Saturday, but continued to cause widespread flooding, particularly near the Pilbara rivers and the Great Sandy Desert.Zelia intensified rapidly because of the record-warm Indian Ocean temperatures, which were 1-2C above the seasonal average, providing increased energy and moisture to fuel the storm. While Port Hedland in Western Australia had minimal damage, nearby areas like Pilbara and Marble Bar faced flooding and fallen trees. The Great Northern Highway remains closed, disrupting food supplies and leaving supermarket shelves empty. The tropical low is now tracking southwards, with rainfall becoming patchier and lighter. Continue reading…Tropical cyclone first to make landfall this year, while a winter storm causes extreme cold across north-eastern USCyclone Zelia became the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in 2025, hitting north-west Australia on Valentine’s Day as a category 4 system. It brought damaging winds of 130mph and heavy rainfall, with 440mm of rain falling in two days. Prior to landfall, Zelia affected southern Indonesia, including Bali, with winds of more than 45mph. The storm weakened into a tropical low by Saturday, but continued to cause widespread flooding, particularly near the Pilbara rivers and the Great Sandy Desert.Zelia intensified rapidly because of the record-warm Indian Ocean temperatures, which were 1-2C above the seasonal average, providing increased energy and moisture to fuel the storm. While Port Hedland in Western Australia had minimal damage, nearby areas like Pilbara and Marble Bar faced flooding and fallen trees. The Great Northern Highway remains closed, disrupting food supplies and leaving supermarket shelves empty. The tropical low is now tracking southwards, with rainfall becoming patchier and lighter. Continue reading…   

Cyclone Zelia became the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in 2025, hitting north-west Australia on Valentine’s Day as a category 4 system. It brought damaging winds of 130mph and heavy rainfall, with 440mm of rain falling in two days. Prior to landfall, Zelia affected southern Indonesia, including Bali, with winds of more than 45mph. The storm weakened into a tropical low by Saturday, but continued to cause widespread flooding, particularly near the Pilbara rivers and the Great Sandy Desert.

Zelia intensified rapidly because of the record-warm Indian Ocean temperatures, which were 1-2C above the seasonal average, providing increased energy and moisture to fuel the storm. While Port Hedland in Western Australia had minimal damage, nearby areas like Pilbara and Marble Bar faced flooding and fallen trees. The Great Northern Highway remains closed, disrupting food supplies and leaving supermarket shelves empty. The tropical low is now tracking southwards, with rainfall becoming patchier and lighter.

Over the weekend, meanwhile, WinterStorm Jett swept through the north-east of the US, bringing strong winds, snow, freezing rain and blizzards. South-west Pennsylvania had about 5in (12.7cm) of snow, while southern New York received 4in (10.2cm). Higher elevations in the Adirondacks, St Lawrence Valley, and the mountains of New England and Maine are expected to accumulate up to a foot of snow from the storm.

This week, high winds from Jett will continue to affect the north-east, with gusts expected to reach up to 60mph. Wind alerts remain in place, with power outages and travel disruptions likely. The winter storm formed through a process known as bombogenesis – a rapid intensification of low pressure, whereby the pressure drops by at least 24 hectopascals within 24 hours.

As the active polar vortex persists, North America and Canada are bracing for yet another deep freeze. The cold air in the region will strengthen the upper-level ridge over Canada, creating a vast reservoir of cold air that will continue to push southwards across the US, bringing more extreme temperatures to the region.

Over the weekend, the Northern Plains experienced a sharp drop in temperatures which is expected to spread south and east through the week, reaching the Gulf and the east coast by Thursday. This cold snap is forecast to bring temperatures more than 10 degrees below average across the US and Canada, with cities such as Chicago, Colombus, Denver, Detroit and Indianapolis experiencing daytime highs of about -15C to -20C. In Canada, cities such as Edmonton and Saskatoon could experience lows of below -35C.