Flood Watch Issued for Cape York Peninsula and North Tropical Coast as Cyclone Narelle Approaches

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued Flood Watch Number 18 for the Cape York Peninsula and parts of the North Tropical Coast. This alert indicates that minor to moderate flooding is likely, with isolated major flooding possible starting overnight Thursday.

Affected Areas

The watch covers a wide range of catchments across Far North Queensland, including:

• Cape York Peninsula: Jacky Jacky Creek, Olive and Pascoe, Lockhart, Stewart, Normanby, Jeannie, Endeavour, Staaten, Coleman and Edward, Holroyd and Kendall, Archer and Coen, Watson, Embley and Mission, Wenlock, Ducie, Jackson and Skardon, and Jardine Rivers.
• North Tropical Coast: Daintree (including Bloomfield), Mossman, Barron, Mulgrave and Russell, Johnstone, Tully, Murray, and Herbert Rivers.
• Other Regions: Mitchell River (including elevated levels at Magnificent Creek at Kowanyama).

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning areas are urged to take the following safety precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel ahead to avoid flooded routes.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for situation updates.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is currently located east of the Cape York Peninsula and is moving westwards. As the system approaches, heavy to locally intense rainfall is forecast to develop. Because catchments are already wet or saturated from recent rainfall, river levels are expected to respond quickly. Disruption to transport routes is likely. Widespread minor to major flooding is already occurring across other parts of Queensland.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 1:37 pm AEST on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Rainfall and subsequent flooding are expected to intensify overnight Thursday. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is forecast to cross the coast during Friday, March 20. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 2:00 pm AEST on Friday.