Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 7:11 am ACST on Saturday 21 March 2026
Headline:

Tropical Cyclone Narelle is moving westwards through the Gulf of Carpentaria and will impact the eastern Top End late Saturday.
Areas Affected:

Warning Zone
Nhulunbuy to Port McArthur, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, and Gapuwiyak.

Watch Zone
Extending west to include Ramingining, Bulman, and Ngukurr.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Narelle 34U at 6:30 am ACST:

Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 110 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 155 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 35 kilometres of 13.2 degrees South 139.6 degrees East, estimated to be 255 kilometres west southwest of Weipa and 355 kilometres east northeast of Alyangula.

Movement: west at 20 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle is over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Narelle is forecast to strengthen during Saturday as it tracks quickly westwards towards the eastern Top End.

Narelle is forecast to cross the eastern Top End coast overnight Saturday or early Sunday morning, most likely between Birany Birany and Numbulwar, as a severe tropical cyclone. Narelle will then weaken as it moves inland across the Top End on Sunday and Monday.
Hazards:

VERY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 185 km/h are forecast to develop in coastal areas between about Birany Birany and Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt, Saturday evening and overnight into Sunday as Narelle approaches from the east.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 160 km/h are forecast to develop between Birany Birany and Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt from later Saturday afternoon and possibly extending to be between Nhulunbuy to Nathan River overnight Saturday or Sunday morning depending on the movement of Narelle.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are forecast to develop in coastal and adjacent inland areas between Gapuwiyak and Port McArthur, including Nhulunbuy and Borroloola, from Saturday afternoon and overnight into Sunday. These GALES may extend west to Ramingining, Bulman, and Ngukurr on Sunday.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely to develop for coastal and adjacent inland areas over the eastern Top End between Port McArthur and Nhulunbuy from Saturday afternoon, then extending further inland during Sunday. LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL leading to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is likely over the eastern Top End between Numbulwar and Birany Birany, including Groote Eylandt, during Saturday afternoon and evening

Tides will be higher than normal between Nhulunbuy and Port McArthur later Saturday and Sunday. LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas. A potentially DANGEROUS STORM TIDE between Cape Shield and Port Roper is possible as the cyclone centre crosses the coast with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING.
Recommended Action:

NTES advises:

People between Nhulunbuy and Port McArthur, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, and Gapuwiyak, should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property.

People further west including Ramingining, Bulman, and Ngukurr, should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases.

- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Secure NT website at http://www.securent.nt.gov.au

- For emergency assistance call the Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

Current Tropical Cyclones