← Back to Stories

Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila threatening Far North Queensland weeks after Cyclone Narelle

2 hours ago3 articles from 3 sources

Consensus Summary

Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila is approaching Far North Queensland less than three weeks after Cyclone Narelle devastated the region, with forecasters warning of potential landfall this weekend. Formed between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Maila is currently a category 3 system but could intensify to category 4 before making landfall, bringing sustained winds of 130–160 km/h and gusts up to 205 km/h. While the Bureau of Meteorology indicates increasing confidence in its path toward Cape York Peninsula, uncertainty remains about its exact trajectory, with some risk of it affecting more populated areas like Cairns or Townsville. Narelle’s recent impact—causing evacuations, flooding, and infrastructure damage across three states—has left communities vulnerable, and Maila’s warm-water fuel from Narelle’s passage may amplify its strength. Southern and central Queensland will experience warmer, drier conditions, but coastal areas may see isolated showers. Authorities urge residents to monitor updates as the storm’s path refines, with the Solomon Islands already issuing warnings for heavy rain and storms.

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • Tropical Cyclone Maila is a category 3 system currently located between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (NEWSCOMAU, GUARDIAN, ABC).
  • Maila is expected to move toward Far North Queensland this weekend, with increasing confidence in its path (NEWSCOMAU, GUARDIAN, ABC).
  • Cyclone Maila was named on Saturday night by the Papua New Guinea National Weather Service (NEWSCOMAU, ABC).
  • Tropical Cyclone Narelle struck Far North Queensland, the Top End, and Western Australia in late March, causing evacuations, flooding, and infrastructure damage (NEWSCOMAU, GUARDIAN).
  • Narelle made landfall in Western Australia as a category 3 system between Coral Bay and Cape Cuvier with 250 km/h winds and 350 mm of rainfall (NEWSCOMAU).
  • Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila could intensify to a category 4 system before landfall (GUARDIAN, ABC).
  • The Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologists Badwen Gilbert and Ilana Cherny are monitoring Maila’s path (NEWSCOMAU, ABC).
  • Maila is expected to bring sustained winds of 130–160 km/h and gusts up to 185–205 km/h (GUARDIAN, ABC).
  • The Solomon Islands have issued warnings for heavy rain, storms, and gale-force winds due to Maila (ABC).
  • Queensland’s cyclone season runs from November 1 to April 30 (ABC).
  • The last April cyclone to cross Queensland’s coast was Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita in 2014 (GUARDIAN, ABC).

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

NEWSCOMAU
  • Maila is the 11th named tropical cyclone in the Australian region this season.
  • Maila could bring winds of 95 km/h at its center and gusts up to 130 km/h if it makes landfall.
  • Narelle caused the Daly River to remain at major flood levels for days, with Katherine facing its second major flood in three weeks.
  • ADF was deployed for emergency assistance in Katherine after Narelle’s impact.
  • Narelle traveled over 5700 km since forming near the Solomons and crossed WA’s Pilbara coast as a category 3 system.
  • Exmouth residents lost power and water supply, with Chevron and Woodside pausing gas production due to infrastructure damage.
  • Southern and Central Queensland are forecast to have rain-free conditions with temperatures 8–10 degrees above average.
  • Parts of Queensland’s coastline (K’gari, Mackay, Whitsundays) will see isolated showers, but lighter than recent days.
GUARDIAN
  • Maila was located 590 km west of Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Monday morning.
  • Maila spent days circling between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands before turning southwest.
  • Narelle was the strongest storm of the season so far and made landfall in Cape York on March 20 as a category 4 system.
  • Narelle crossed the coast twice more in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, the first storm to do so in 21 years.
  • Maila could strengthen to category 4 (160–199 km/h sustained winds) before weakening back to category 3.
  • Warm seas from Narelle’s recent passage are feeding Maila’s energy, as it hasn’t had time to cool.
ABC
  • At 4am Tuesday, Maila was 970 km east of Port Moresby with sustained winds of 150 km/h and gusts of 205 km/h.
  • Maila is expected to ‘mill around’ before moving west-southwest later in the week.
  • The Solomon Islands have issued warnings for widespread heavy rain, storms, and possible gale-force winds.
  • Weather in southern Queensland is expected to be above average, with inland areas remaining dry.
  • The Bureau of Meteorology’s Ilana Cherny advised checking updated track maps daily as the forecast refines.

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • NEWSCOMAU states Maila is currently a category 3 system, while GUARDIAN and ABC describe it as a ‘severe’ category 3 system with no explicit category 4 downgrade mentioned elsewhere.
  • GUARDIAN reports Maila could strengthen to category 4 before weakening, but ABC does not explicitly state this timeline or intensity shift.
  • NEWSCOMAU mentions Maila could hit Far North Queensland with winds of 95 km/h at the center, while GUARDIAN and ABC focus on sustained winds of 130–160 km/h and gusts up to 205 km/h.
  • GUARDIAN suggests Maila could swing south toward Cairns or Townsville, while NEWSCOMAU and ABC emphasize Cape York as the most likely landfall area.
  • ABC states Maila is expected to weaken after crossing Cape York and bring rainfall inland, but NEWSCOMAU does not mention inland rainfall explicitly.

Source Articles

ABC

Tropical Cyclone Maila likely to cross Far North Queensland

The Bureau of Meteorology is increasingly confident the system will move towards the Queensland coast later in the week, potentially crossing Cape York Peninsula....

19 hours ago
NEWSCOMAU

Second cyclone in weeks threatens Aus

Aussies are yet again bracing for a potential cyclone just weeks after Tropical Cyclone Narelle smashed towns in three states....

Yesterday
GUARDIAN

Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila on track to hit far north Queensland three weeks after Narelle tore through

While path and strength of storm remain uncertain, BoM warns Cape York could again take direct hit if cyclone makes landfall Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Another cyclon...

Yesterday