Source: Bureau of Meteorology

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 10
Issued at 4:52 am EST on Thursday 19 March 2026

Headline:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle expected to bring severe impacts to Far North Queensland during Friday.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Lockhart River to Cape Tribulation.

Watch Zone
Kowanyama to Weipa.

Cancelled Zone
Port Douglas.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle 34U at 4:00 am AEST:
Intensity: Category 4, sustained winds near the centre of 165 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 230 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 30 kilometres of 13.2 degrees South 149.4 degrees East, estimated to be 515 kilometres east northeast of Cooktown and 670 kilometres east of Coen.

Movement: west southwest at 22 kilometres per hour.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle (34U) is currently at category 4 intensity in the northern Coral Sea. Narelle is moving steadily to the west and will approach the far northeast Queensland coast between Lockhart River and Cooktown. A severe impact is likely during Friday.

After crossing the northeast Queensland coast, most likely on Friday morning, Narelle is forecast to continue tracking westwards. Narelle is likely to temporarily weaken as it crosses Cape York Peninsula, however it is expected to remain a tropical cyclone. Narelle will then continue to move west across the Gulf of Carpentaria, and is forecast to intensify to a severe tropical cyclone before impacting the Northern Territory over the weekend.

Hazards:
VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS in excess of 230 km/h are possible near the centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle as it crosses the coast.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 160 km/hr are likely from Lockhart River to Cape Flattery from Thursday night and may extend south to Cooktown if Narelle takes a more southerly path. DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS are possible near the centre of Narelle as it moves further inland across Cape York Peninsula during Friday.

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

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/hr will also possibly extend across 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 Cape Tribulation 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 Cape Tribulation 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 Weipa and Kowanyama, and adjacent inland areas of the Central Peninsula, 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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