Source: Bureau of Meteorology

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 5

Issued at 11:04 am EST on Wednesday 18 March 2026
Headline:

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

None.
Watch Zone

Central Peninsula and Northern Tropical Coast, including Port Douglas, Lockhart River, and Weipa.
Cancelled Zone

None.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Narelle 34U at 10:00 am AEST:

Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 110 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 155 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 45 kilometres of 12.1 degrees South 153.5 degrees East, estimated to be 600 kilometres northeast of Willis Island and 970 kilometres east northeast of Cooktown.

Movement: west at 17 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle (34U) is currently at category 2 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 on 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.
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 possible from south of Lockhart River to Cooktown from Thursday night.

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/hr are possible between Lockhart River and Port Douglas from Thursday.

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

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible between Cape Melville and Port Douglas from Thursday evening, extending inland during Friday. LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL is possible between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, and also inland areas west of Coen, from Friday.

Tides will be higher than normal between Coen and Port Douglas. 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 may rise significantly above the normal high tide, DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING is possible for low-lying coastal areas.
Recommended Action:

- 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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