Source: Bureau of Meteorology

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 6

Issued at 4:42 pm EST on Wednesday 18 March 2026
Headline:

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is intensifying in the northern Coral Sea, and is expected to bring severe impacts to Far North Queensland.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone

Lockhart River to Cape Tribulation.
Watch Zone

Cape Tribulation to Port Douglas, extending across the Central Peninsula to Weipa and Kowanyama.
Cancelled Zone

None.
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle 34U at 4:00 pm AEST:

Intensity: Category 3, sustained winds near the centre of 120 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 165 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 35 kilometres of 12.7 degrees South 151.9 degrees East, estimated to be 780 kilometres east northeast of Cooktown and 950 kilometres east of Coen.

Movement: west southwest at 22 kilometres per hour.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle (34U) is currently at category 3 intensity in the northern Coral Sea. Narelle is expected to move steadily to the west and approach the far northeast Queensland coast between Lockhart River and Port Douglas. A severe impact is likely late on Thursday or during Friday.

After crossing the northeast Queensland coast, most likely on Friday morning, Narelle is forecast to continue its westward path, moving across the Cape York Peninsula and into the Gulf of Carpentaria. As is crosses the Cape York Peninsula Narelle is likely to weaken, however, it is expected to remain a tropical cyclone. Narelle will continue to move west across the Gulf of Carpentaria, and is forecast have renewed intensification, developing again to a severe tropical cyclone before moving towards the Northern Territory.
Hazards:

VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS in excess of 250 km/h are possible near the centre of Tropical Cyclone Narelle as it crosses the coast.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 155 km/hr are likely from south of Lockhart River to Cape Flattery from Thursday night and may extend south to Cooktown if Narelle takes a more southerly path.

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/hr are likely between Lockhart River and Cooktown from Thursday evening, and may extend south to Port Douglas if Narelle takes a more southerly path.

Gales and GUSTS may begin earlier in the warning area during Thursday if Narelle moves faster than the current forecast.

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/hr will also possibly extend across the Cape York Peninsula, including areas between Weipa and Kowanyama from Friday.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible between Cape Melville and Port Douglas from Thursday evening, 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 Port Douglas 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.
Recommended Action:

People between Lockhart River and Cape Tribulation should take precautions and listen to the next advice.

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

People between Cape Tribulation to Port Douglas, extending across the Central Peninsula to Weipa and Kowanyama should stay informed and listen to the next advice.

- 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.

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