One of Australia’s most cyclone-prone regions has been hit again, with a damaging system crossing the northwest coast.

But one of the world’s busiest iron ore loading ports appears to have been spared the worst of Tropical Cyclone Zelia’s destruction.

Western Australia’s northwest coast is reeling after category five system Zelia made landfall hours earlier than expected.

It was quickly downgraded to a category four as it crossed the coast east of Port Hedland and was expected to continue to weaken as it moved inland on Saturday.

Major mining hub Port Hedland was spared the worst of Zelia’s destructive winds despite earlier fears it would take a direct hit.

Port Hedland local Chris Ward said it had been a hectic time but not as bad as he feared.

“We’ve had plenty of rain and wind,” he told AAP.

“But it looks like the cyclone’s eye is well inland now and the roof is still on the house, and that’s a good thing.”

Port Hedland is one of the world’s largest iron ore export points, with any lengthy cyclone-enforced port closure potentially disrupting global supply.

Ships and trains were cleared from ports in the area in preparation for Zelia but mining groups said it was too early to tell what impact it would have on supply as the northwest recovered.

Zelia approached WA’s coast with winds of up to 290km/h, sparking fears in Port Hedland of Cyclone Ilsa’s deadly impact in 2023 which claimed eight lives.

Port Hedland dodged the most ferocious winds but was still lashed by strong gusts and heavy rain as Zelia triggered flash flooding and a “dangerous” storm surge in the northwest.

The Australian Defence Force will assist with the recovery after the wild weather closed roads, schools, shops and ports, with about 200 people fleeing to evacuation centres.

Zelia is forecast to move south into the Pilbara and parts of the Gascoyne on Saturday as it loses intensity but is still expected to bring heavy rainfall.

-AAP