Cyclone Narelle’s Path: From Far North Queensland to the Northern Territory’s Flood Threat
Residents across Far North Queensland are still recovering and bracing for further impacts as Cyclone Narelle, a significant weather system, pivots towards the Northern Territory. Having crossed the Queensland coast as a Category 2 storm, Narelle is expected to regain strength, potentially reaching Category 3 intensity before making landfall in the Top End. This shift brings with it the threat of substantial rainfall, with predictions of up to 500 millimetres in some areas.
The cyclone is currently navigating the Gulf of Carpentaria and is set to impact the northeastern Northern Territory imminently. A warning zone has been established, stretching from Nhulunbuy down to Port McArthur. This area encompasses several communities, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, and Gapuwiyak, all of which are at risk of life-threatening flash flooding.
The system is moving at a steady pace of 19km/h. As of recent reports, it was located approximately 155 kilometres west-southwest of Weipa and 455 kilometres east of Alyangula. While currently classified as a Category 2 cyclone, it is packing sustained winds near its centre of 100km/h, with gusts reaching up to 140km/h.
Meteorologist Angus Hines has highlighted the concerning implications of Narelle’s trajectory, particularly for regions already grappling with significant flooding in recent weeks. “We could see rainfall in excess of 100 to 200 millimetres along the path of that tropical cyclone, stretching from Alyangula on the east coast to the Katherine area, and out to Wadeye on the western side of the Top End,” Hines stated. He further elaborated on the potential severity, noting that “these rainfall numbers are significant, with isolated values above that during Sunday and into early Monday morning, and are likely to lead to renewed river rises across the top end, including the potential for renewed major flooding around Katherine and Beswick, and prolonged major flooding around the Daly River.”
The severe weather is expected to extend its reach early next week, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the northern Kimberley region, including Kalumburu and areas north of Kununurra.
Queensland’s Preparedness and Impact
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli confirmed that emergency services were on high alert and ready to deploy assistance as Narelle initially tracked towards Aurukun, an Indigenous community with a population of around 1200. “It threaded the needle on the east coast (this morning), right between Coen and Lockhart River, which was tremendous,” Crisafulli remarked. He acknowledged that while the cyclone’s intensity had slightly decreased, the threat of strong winds remained a concern, with reports already emerging of their impact in Aurukun. “So we’re keeping a watching brief of Aurukun, Weipa on the western side, and obviously the rain that will come from it as well.”
Aurukun and its surrounding areas were anticipating destructive wind gusts of up to 150km/h, while Weipa and its neighbouring regions were bracing for gusts up to 120km/h.
The sheer volume of rainfall in Far North Queensland was evident, with Archer River, situated north of Coen, recording an astonishing 400 millimetres in less than 24 hours as the cyclone’s eye passed over Cape York. “We saw the bridge, the water under the bridge go from five metres to 13 metres in a handful of hours, that is big rain,” Crisafulli conveyed. He stressed the importance of a swift and coordinated response: “What’s important now is that there’s no daylight between response and recovery. As the system goes to the west we are already on the ground reconnecting power, making sure that there’s infrastructure there, we’ve pre-positioned people.”
Narelle’s Landfall and Immediate Aftermath
Cyclone Narelle made landfall northeast of Coen at approximately 8am (9am AEDT) before commencing its westward trajectory across the Cape York Peninsula. Towns in Far North Queensland experienced significant rainfall, with many receiving over 100 millimetres in a 24-hour period, and some enduring up to four times that amount. The Bureau of Meteorology had issued a flood watch for North Queensland, encompassing the entire peninsula from the Herbert River northwards, including all rivers, creeks, and streams across the Cape.
Fortunately, initial reports from the Queensland Ambulance Service indicated no fatalities or serious injuries. However, the cyclone did cause widespread power outages, particularly affecting Coen and Lockhart River, where authorities issued warnings about fallen powerlines. A powerful storm surge also contributed to coastal inundation, with waves reaching paths and roads as far south as Cairns, carrying debris such as trees and benches into the ocean. Emergency crews were mobilised as soon as it was safe to commence clean-up operations, although many roads remained impassable due to floodwaters and fallen trees.
