Zelia bears down on northwestern Australia coast, could become first Category 5-equivalent system in southern Pacific this season. (Joint Typhoon Warning Center.)

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, West Australia time: Just six weeks into the new year and we’re already facing what may be the first Category 5-equivalent system of the southern Pacific season, this one bearing down on northwest Australia and expected to make landfall early Saturday morning.

At 4 p.m. Thursday, Tropical Cyclone Zelia was 90 miles north-northwest of Port Hedland and sat quasi-stationary, packing 145-mph sustained winds and 175-mph gusts at center.

If Zelia continues moving as forecast by Joint Typhoon Warning Center, it’s forecast to come ashore about 60 miles west of Hedland at about 2 a.m. Friday, still packing 155-mph sustained winds and 195-mph gusts at center. A fairly compact, but very powerful storm.