Residents from Pardoo Roadhouse to Whim Creek and inland to west of Marble Bar were told to take shelter, with authorities warning it was too late to leave.

“Certainly the cyclone where it’s crossing the coast (east of Port Hedland) … is a better result than what it would have been.”

A satellite image from the Bureau of Meteorology shows Tropical Cyclone Zelia over the coast of Western Australia around Port Hedland on Thursday. Credit: Supplied

Heavy rain and strong winds still lashed the town, with locals posting pictures of the damage outside.

Two Australian Defence Force fixed-wing aircraft were set to arrive on Saturday to assist local crews.

Rain and wind were still forecast to hit large parts of the northern interior and the central Gascoyne, the bureau said.