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

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

• Tropical Cyclone Narelle formed in the Coral Sea on March 2026 and intensified to a category five system before making landfall in Far North Queensland on Friday, March 2026, near Coen.
• The cyclone made its first landfall in Queensland as a category four system between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, bringing wind gusts up to 250-270 km/h and heavy rainfall of 200-450mm.
• Narelle crossed the Gulf of Carpentaria and made a second landfall in the Northern Territory as a category three system on Saturday, March 2026, near Groote Eylandt and Numbulwar, bringing destructive winds up to 195 km/h and heavy rain.
• The cyclone was downgraded to a tropical low after crossing the NT coast but is expected to re-form and potentially re-intensify into a category four system before impacting Western Australia’s Kimberley region and possibly the Pilbara coast by late March 2026.
• Northern Territory communities including Katherine, Beswick, Daly River, and Adelaide River experienced major flooding in March 2026, with the Katherine River reaching major flood levels twice in two weeks.
• About 500 residents from Numbulwar, NT, were evacuated to Darwin ahead of the cyclone’s impact, and Groote Eylandt residents prepared for shelter in place.
• The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued multiple flood warnings for the Katherine, Daly, Adelaide, and Waterhouse rivers in the NT, with some areas experiencing prolonged major flooding.
• Tropical Cyclone Narelle is the first system in over 20 years forecast to impact three states/territories (Queensland, NT, and WA) and the first to cross Australia from east to west since Cyclone Steve in 2000.
• The cyclone brought significant rainfall to the NT, including 202mm in Adelaide River and up to 300mm in some areas, exacerbating existing flood conditions.
• The Northern Territory experienced seven high-risk weather events in 2026, including Cyclone Narelle, with severe flooding and saturated catchments.
• The Queensland Premier David Crisafulli warned residents of the potential for widespread damage, including storm surges, flash flooding, and loss of power, urging preparation and evacuation where necessary.
• The BOM warned of a high chance of Narelle re-intensifying into a tropical cyclone in the Indian Ocean, potentially impacting WA’s Pilbara or Midwest coast by late March 2026.
• The cyclone caused power outages and structural damage in Far North Queensland, with about 1,000 properties without power across the Cape York Peninsula.
• The Northern Territory government activated disaster recovery payments for affected communities, including Daly River, Beswick, and Katherine.
• The Katherine River peaked at 19.2 meters in early March 2026, inundating homes and businesses, and was forecast to reach major flood levels again in mid-March 2026.