Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 8:00 pm EST on Friday 20 March 2026
Headline:

Tropical Cyclone Narelle impacting western Cape York Peninsula tonight and eastern Northern Territory late Saturday.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone

QUEENSLAND. Western Cape York Peninsula between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw, including Weipa and Aurukun.

NORTHERN TERRITORY. Nhulunbuy to Port McArthur, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, and Gapuwiyak.
Watch Zone

NORTHERN TERRITORY. Extending west to include Ramingining, Bulman, and Ngukurr.
Cancelled Zone

Central Cape York Peninsula east of Weipa.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Narelle 34U at 7:00 pm AEST:

Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 30 kilometres of 13.4 degrees South 141.8 degrees East, estimated to be 10 kilometres east southeast of Aurukun and 580 kilometres east of Alyangula.

Movement: west at 16 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle is moving westwards, near Aurukun, on the western Cape York Peninsula where impacts are expected over the next few hours. Narelle is then forecast to move quickly through the Gulf of Carpentaria overnight and through Saturday, strengthening again to a severe tropical cyclone.

Narelle is expected to approach the northeast parts the Northern Territory during Saturday. It is forecast to cross the eastern Top End coast overnight Saturday or early Sunday morning, most likely between Birany Birany and Ngukurr, as a severe tropical cyclone. Narelle will then weaken as it moves inland across the Top End on Sunday and Monday.
Hazards:

Queensland

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 130 km/h are likely near the centre of Narelle, including the Aurukun area, as it moves west into the Gulf of Carpentaria over the next few hours.

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are likely between Weipa and Cape Keerweer as Narelle moves into the Gulf of Carpentaria this afternoon and evening. These DAMAGING WIND GUSTS may extend to coastal areas between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw later tonight depending on the movement and development of Narelle in the Gulf.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING, with LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL, is likely to continue in the western half of Cape York Peninsula between Pormpuraaw and Mapoon this evening.

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

VERY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 195 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 south of 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 south of Nhulunbuy from Saturday afternoon. 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 Alyangula and Port Roper is possible as the cyclone centre crosses the coast with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING.
Recommended Action:

Queensland:

- People in the path of the cyclone should stay calm and remain in a secure shelter - above the expected water level - while the destructive winds continue.

- Do not venture outside if you find yourself in the eye of the cyclone - destructive winds from a different direction could resume at any time.

- There may be powerlines down, broken glass and other hazards.

- Follow the instructions and advice of Police, Emergency Services personnel and local authorities.

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

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

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

People further west incuding 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).

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