Flooding fears as Ex-Tropical Cyclone Zelia brings record rainfall through Pilbara region

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Zelia has now been downgraded to a tropical low but the weather system is bringing record rainfall as it moves through Western Australia, sparking fears of major flooding.

The rain swamped regional communities with 60 people rescued from flood waters in the remote Indigenous community of Waralong, flown by helicopter to the Port Hedland evacuation centre.

Port Hedland largely escaped the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Zelia but the storm still brought down trees, leaving street after street looking "like utter destruction".

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Resident Trent Collins described the roaring winds "like a 747 jumbo jet right outside the front door".

Zelia made landfall near the De Grey River, 54 kilometres north-east of where it was expected to hit Port Hedland, as a category 4 storm about 12.30pm (3.30pm AEDT) yesterday.

It brought intense rain and winds, which uprooted trees, flooded roads and damaged homes, before weakening overnight and into the early hours of this morning.

"I think we kind of came out pretty lucky and unscathed," resident Melissa Knaggs told 9News.

Fellow Port Hedland resident Peter Roth agreed

"I think we definitely dodged a bullet," he said.

"Especially for the all the trees and stuff that that came down, if it had a hit straight on, I think it would have been a lot worse."

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Today, the Bureau of Meteorology announced the system lost its status as a tropical cyclone and is now impacting the region as a tropical low.

The tropical low is currently located over the eastern Pilbara, southwest of Marble Bar, and is tracking south.

"It will leave the Pilbara and move into the far north-eastern Gascoyne. Still heavy rain anticipated as it is moving southwards," senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.

It is forecast to bring 24-hour rainfall totals of up to 100mm which could lead to flash flooding over the southeast Pilbara and northeast Gascoyne districts today, easing into the evening.

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Major flooding is occurring in the De Grey River Catchment.

A flood warning has been issued for the Pilbara Coastal Rivers and an initial flood warning is in place for the Sandy Desert.

The Fortescue, Ashburton and Gascoyne Rivers are under a flood watch.

But, as the tropical low promises high rainfall totals, more rivers could see flooding.

"There is also a flood watch in place covering most of northern WA as we could see new rivers experiencing flooding conditions over the next day or two given the upcoming rainfall," Hines said.

The SES has already received 100 calls for help.

It is still too early to assess the extent of damage the ex-tropical cyclone has caused.

The region will see some relief by tomorrow, when the wet weather is forecast to become patchier.

"We'll start to see some gaps and some holes in the rainfall," Hines said.

"It will thin out and the rainfall totals will get lighter on Sunday as all of that moisture moves southward."

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