Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 11:01 pm EST on Thursday 19 March 2026

Headline:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle to bring severe impacts to Far North Queensland during Friday and the eastern Northern Territory later Saturday.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Cape York Peninsula between Lockhart River and Cape Tribulation, and between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw, including Coen, Cooktown, Weipa, and Aurukun.

Watch Zone
Northern Territory: Nhulunbuy to Port McArthur, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, and Ngukurr.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle 34U at 10:00 pm AEST:

Intensity: Category 5, sustained winds near the centre of 220 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 315 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 30 kilometres of 13.7 degrees South 145.5 degrees East, estimated to be 205 kilometres north of Cooktown and 250 kilometres east of Coen.

Movement: west at 20 kilometres per hour.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle remains at category 5 strength is moving westwards towards the Cape York Peninsula. Narelle is forecast to cross the coast between Lockhart River and Cape Melville on Friday morning as a category 5 cyclone.

Narelle is forecast to move over Cape York Peninsula as a tropical cyclone during Friday while weakening. Narelle will then continue to move west across the Gulf of Carpentaria, and is forecast to strengthen again to a severe tropical cyclone before impacting the eastern Northern Territory from late Saturday.
Hazards:

Queensland:

VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS in excess of 250 km/h are possible near the centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle as it crosses the Cape York Peninsula coast on Friday morning. VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS will persist about the centre of Narelle for some distance inland.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 160 km/h are likely from Lockhart River to Cape Flattery from tonight. DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS are likely to persist near the centre of Narelle as it moves across Cape York Peninsula during Friday.

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are likely north of Cooktown to north of Lockhart River and may extend south to Cape Tribulation if Narelle takes a more southerly path. Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are also forecast to extent across Cape York Peninsula, including areas between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw, during Friday.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible between Cape Melville and Cape Tribulation, extending northwards and to inland areas west of Coen during Friday. LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL is likely in an area of the Peninsula bounded by Lockhart River, Cape Flattery, Pormpuraaw, and Weipa during Friday.

Tides will be higher than normal between Coen and Cape Tribulation as Narelle approaches and crosses the coast. LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas. There is a small risk that tides may approach the highest tide of the year during Friday.

Tides in Princess Charlotte Bay are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide, with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING. Any coastal residents in this area are specifically warned of a possible DANGEROUS STORM TIDE as the cyclone centre crosses the coast.

Once Narelle moves into the Gulf of Carpentaria, tides on the western Peninsula between Weipa and Kowanyama may be higher than normal. LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas.

Northern Territory:

GALES are not expected in coastal areas in the next 24 hours, however gales are expected to develop in coastal areas between Port McArthur and Nhulunbuy from Saturday afternoon as Narelle approaches from the east, and extend inland to areas including Ngukurr on Saturday night. VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds are possible near the centre of the cyclone on Saturday night.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible for coastal and adjacent inland areas over the eastern Top End between Port McArthur and south of Nhulunbuy from late Saturday.

Tides will be higher than normal between Nhulunbuy and Port McArthur on Saturday and Sunday LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas.
Recommended Action:

Queensland:

People on eastern Cape York Peninsula between Lockhart River and Cape Flattery and inland to Coen should complete preparations now and be prepared to shelter in a safe place. People elsewhere in the Warning zone should finalise preparations

-Boats and outside property should be secured if safe to do so.

-IF YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER PHONE TRIPLE ZERO (000) IMMEDIATELY.

- Stay informed by checking your local government s Disaster Dashboards for the latest updates.

- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Get Ready Queensland website www.getready.qld.gov.au

- For non-life threatening emergency assistance contact State Emergency Services (SES) online via the SES Assistance QLD App, Apple , Android, online www.132500.qld.gov.au, or call 132 500 from anywhere in Queensland.

Northern Territory:

NTES advises:

People between Port MacArthur and Nhulunbuy, and inland to 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).

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