Source: Bureau of Meteorology

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 60

Issued at 8:57 am WST on Wednesday 25 March 2026
Headline:

Tropical Cyclone Narelle is intensifying with the risk of gale force winds developing along the eastern Pilbara coast today.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone

Cape Leveque to south of Beagle Bay, and Bidyadanga to Onslow, including Port Hedland and Karratha and extending inland to Pannawonica and Millstream.
Watch Zone

West of Onslow to Carnarvon, including Exmouth and Coral Bay.
Cancelled Zone

None.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Narelle 34U at 8:00 am AWST:

Intensity: Category 1, sustained winds near the centre of 85 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 35 kilometres of 17.2 degrees South 120.4 degrees East, estimated to be 210 kilometres west northwest of Broome and 395 kilometres north northeast of Port Hedland.

Movement: west southwest at 23 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle has redeveloped into a Category 1 tropical cyclone overnight and is expected to continue to intensify to reach severe (category 3) intensity overnight tonight.

Narelle is moving west southwest, roughly parallel to the Pilbara coast. Although Narelle is located well north of the Pilbara gales are likely to extend to the coast as Narelle is larger than usual.

During Friday, Narelle will turn towards the south, likely passing close to the North West Cape. During this time significant impacts may extend to the inland western Pilbara and then south along the Gascoyne coast.

On Saturday Narelle is expected to move to the south southeast with impacts extending to the Central West and then further inland and south across the South West Land Division.
Hazards:

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 90 km/h are possible in coastal parts of the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome this morning, including Beagle Bay and Cape Leveque, before gradually easing during this morning as Narelle moves further away from the west Kimberley coast. A Severe Weather Warning for showers with damaging wind gusts is in place over parts of far west Kimberley.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 100 km/h may develop along the coast between Bidyadanga and De Grey this morning. Gales are forecast to extend further west along the Pilbara coast to Port Hedland and Karratha later today. GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h may develop west to Exmouth during Thursday afternoon and extend further south to Carnarvon by Friday morning.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 140 km/h may develop on the Pilbara coast near Karratha late Wednesday or early Thursday, extending to Exmouth during Thursday, and to Coral Bay by early Friday.

Coastal residents between Exmouth and Carnarvon are specifically warned of a DANGEROUS STORM TIDE as the cyclone moves south down the Gascoyne coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide, with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING.

Tides will be higher than normal between Port Hedland and North West Cape. LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas.

Isolated HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING may occur across parts of the north and west Kimberley during Wednesday.
Recommended Action:

DFES advises:

Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app.

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