Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle Threatens Far North Queensland with Destructive Winds

Alert Details

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre has issued a major tropical cyclone warning for Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle (34U). Currently a Category 3 system, Narelle is intensifying in the northern Coral Sea and is expected to bring severe impacts to Far North Queensland.

Affected Areas

• Warning Zone: Lockhart River to Cape Tribulation.
• Watch Zone: Cape Tribulation to Port Douglas, extending across the Central Peninsula to Weipa and Kowanyama.
• Other Areas Noted: Groote Eylandt NTC AWS, Alyangula, North East Island, Angurugu, and Arnhem.

What You Should Do

Residents in the Warning Zone should prepare for gales within 24 hours. Those in the Watch Zone should expect gales within 24 to 48 hours. Land-based communities should monitor the cyclone’s progress closely. Mariners are advised to read coastal waters and high seas warnings as this product is designed for land-based communities.

Expected Conditions

• Intensity: Category 3, with sustained winds near the center of 120 km/h and gusts up to 165 km/h.
• Extreme Hazards: Very destructive wind gusts in excess of 250 km/h are possible near the center of the cyclone.
• Movement: The system is moving west-southwest at 22 kilometres per hour.

Timeline

• Issued: 4:13 pm ACST Wednesday, 18 March 2026.
• Coastal Impact: Severe impact is likely late on Thursday or during Friday morning as the system approaches the coast between Lockhart River and Port Douglas.
• Forecast Path: After crossing the northeast Queensland coast on Friday morning, Narelle is forecast to move across the Cape York Peninsula and into the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is expected to remain a tropical cyclone and may undergo renewed intensification before moving toward the Northern Territory.