Schools closed as category five Tropical Cyclone Zelia heads towards Western Australia coast | Western Australia

Schools have been closed as northern Australia braces for a tropical cyclone that has developed into a destructive category five system.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia has rapidly intensified since developing off the Western Australian coast, sparking authorities into action.

It is expected to make landfall between Dampier and De Grey on Friday afternoon.

About a dozen schools have been shut in the state’s north and roads were set to be closed with the cyclone looming about 140km north of Port Hedland and sustained winds near the centre of the system reaching 205km/h, with wind gusts to 285km/h.

Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology Angus Hines said category five was “top of the scale”.

“It doesn’t get any worse than that,” he said. “That is the most powerful tropical cyclone you can get.”

The BoM said the cyclone remained slow-moving and was forecast to move south to the coast on Friday, with destructive winds likely for communities on the Pilbara coast as early as Friday morning.

Damaging wind gusts of up to 120km/h were developing on Thursday afternoon on the coast between De Grey and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland, which could move west from Friday.

The BoM projected wind gusts of up to 290km/h close to the cyclone’s centre as it crossed the coast, bringing heavy rainfall, possible flash flooding and a storm tide.

WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner, Darren Klemm, said the intensity of the cyclone meant there was a “significant threat to lives and property”.

He said not all cyclones made landfall, but that didn’t mean the cyclone wouldn’t cause damage on land. The warning zone extended from Wallal Downs to Dampier, including Port Hedland, Karratha and Dampier, and inland to Marble Bar.

Schools have been closed in the region with authorities expected to shut roads, including the Great Northern Highway, and set up a South Hedland evacuation centre.

The system was on Thursday developing winds gusts up to 250km/h.

A cyclone watch and act warning has been issued for Eighty Mile Beach to Whim Creek and inland to Marble Bar.

“There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a cyclone is approaching the area,” the warning said. “You need to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.”

Australia’s largest iron ore port at Port Hedland was shut down on Wednesday as the region braced for the incoming system.

Port Hedland resident Chris Ward said cyclone preparations were well under way on in the iron ore town of about 16,000.

“The rain has well and truly started. People are stocking up at the supermarket on food and water, and tying down stuff around their homes,” Ward said.

“The airport is getting busy too, Fifo workers are flying out. Looks like it’s going to be a wet and wild Valentine’s Day.”

BHP paused non-essential travel to Port Hedland, while iron ore mines continued to operate.

Authorities worked with retailers to ensure supplies are available to rural, Indigenous and isolated communities, with the cyclone tracking toward the east Pilbara coast.

Additional on-the-ground personnel, flood boats and aircraft have also been pre-deployed.

The federal emergency management minister, Jenny McAllister, told reporters on Thursday that there remained “high uncertainty” as to where and when the “very destructive inner core of the cyclone” would cross the coast.

But she warned it would be accompanied by “very heavy rainfall and a dangerous storm surge”.

“This is a very dangerous cyclone,” she said. “I ask communities between Bidyadanga to Dampier … to please stay updated with warnings from the bureau and … emergency management agencies.”