Tropical Cyclone Narelle impacts northern Australia across Queensland, NT, and WA

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Key details reported by multiple sources:

• Tropical Cyclone Narelle formed in the Coral Sea on March 4, 2026, and intensified into a category five system before making landfall in Far North Queensland on March 7, 2026.
• The cyclone made its first landfall near Coen, Queensland, as a category four system on March 7, 2026, bringing sustained winds of 195 km/h and gusts up to 270 km/h.
• Narelle crossed the Gulf of Carpentaria and made a second landfall in the Northern Territory near Groote Eylandt or Numbulwar as a category three system on March 9, 2026.
• The cyclone brought heavy rainfall of 150-300mm to the Northern Territory, causing renewed flooding in the Katherine, Daly, Adelaide, and Waterhouse river catchments.
• Narelle was downgraded to a tropical low after crossing the NT coast but was forecast to redevelop into a tropical cyclone again as it moved toward Western Australia.
• About 500 residents from Numbulwar, NT, were evacuated to Darwin ahead of the cyclone’s impact on March 8-9, 2026.
• Katherine, NT, experienced its worst flooding in 28 years in late February/early March 2026, with the Katherine River reaching over 19 meters, and was at risk of further flooding from Narelle.
• The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued major flood warnings for the Katherine River, Daly River, Adelaide River, and Waterhouse River systems in the NT.
• Tropical Cyclone Narelle is the first system in over 20 years forecast to impact three states/territories (Queensland, NT, and WA).
• The cyclone caused power outages, road closures, and damage to infrastructure across Cape York Peninsula, including Coen, Lockhart River, and Weipa.
• The system was fueled by record-high ocean temperatures in the Coral Sea, with sea surface temperatures 1-2 degrees Celsius warmer than average, contributing to its rapid intensification.
• The Northern Territory experienced seven high-risk weather events in the 2025-2026 wet season, including Tropical Cyclone Narelle.
• The NT government announced a $100 million Flood Recovery Fund to rebuild infrastructure damaged by recent flooding in the Northern Territory.
• The Stuart Highway was cut off by flooding near Adelaide River, NT, on multiple occasions in March 2026.
• The BOM warned of storm surges, flash flooding, and dangerous conditions in coastal areas of Cape York Peninsula and the NT.
• The cyclone caused evacuations in remote communities like Numbulwar, Daly River/Nauiyu, and Palumpa, with some residents displaced for weeks.
• The Australian Defence Force (ADF) assisted with evacuations and clean-up efforts in the NT, including transporting residents from Numbulwar to Darwin.