1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 10:42pmStay up to date with the latest emergency warnings
You can head to the ABC Emergency website for all updates, including a map of all warnings.
ABC Emergency will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio, which you can stream on the ABC Listen App.
Here are the radio frequencies for local stations:
For NT: ABC DarwinÂ
Darwin – 105.7 FMKatherine – 106.1 FMJabiru – 747 AMNhulunbuy and Yirrkala – 990 AMGroote Eylandt, Pine Creek, Mataranka and Borroloola – 106.1 FM
For Queensland: ABC Far NorthÂ
Cooktown – 105.7 FMLakeland – 106.1 FMLaura – 106.1 FMMossman, Port Douglas and the Daintree – 639 AMWeipa – 1044 AM
We’re aware the ABC Local Radio transmitter at Coen (105.9 FM) has been impacted by Cyclone Narelle. People in the area with can tune in to ABC Far NorthQueensland via the ABC Listen app.
You can also keep across the latest warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology on its website.
2m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 11:56pm
Concerns over evacuation centre standards
Chair of the Northern Land Council Matthew Ryan says there is some concern about the standard of evacuation centres in the Northern Territory.
He says some of these people have been displaced twice due to recent flooding.
“We need better communication in terms of how do we take care of our displaced community members at facilities,” he says.
He says there are some reports of poor quality food and bedding, and some people having to sleep without mattresses.
“We should have been better prepared now than being reactive every time,” he says.
13m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 11:45pm
Energy, telecommunications crews headed to Aurukun
While Tropical Cyclone Narelle has come and gone from Aurukun, it has left behind a number of fallen trees and powerlines.
Aurukun Shire Council says the airport has reopened this morning, with Ergon and Telstra crews expected to fly in this morning to assess the situation and try to restore services.
The warning remains the same: stay away from fallen trees and fallen powerlines.
Trees and power lines are down around Aurukun. (Supplied: Aurukun Shire Council)
26m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 11:32pm
500 register for evacuation centre in NT
Nicola Krey from Red Cross Australia says overnight 500 people from the Numbulwar community were flown to an evacuation centre ahead of Cyclone Narelle’s arrival.
She says the people in the centre ranged from newborn twins to elders.
“They were tired but grateful for some shelter,” she says.
The evacuation centre has been running since early March after major flooding in the territory, she adds.
36m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 11:21pm
About 1,000 without power
Emma Olivieri from Ergon Energy has given an update on ABC Far North with Amanda Cranston.
She says about 1,000 customers are without power in Aurukun, Coen, Lockhart River and Napranum, with the aim to get them all back on by tonight.
She says reinstating power will depend on weather conditions, damage and safe access to restore it.
She adds crews will be flying out of Mareeba this morning and heading to remote sites by heavy lift helicopters.
“We’re heading to all of those remote sites by aircraft, by helicopter, by heavy lift helicopter, so that we can bring equipment in. We need to bring everything in that crews will require for emergency repairs,” she says.
To report fallen powerlines, call 13 16 70. Â
43m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 11:15pm
Queensland premier arrives in Cooktown
David Crisafulli has arrived in Cooktown. (ABC News: Christopher Testa)
Premier David Crisafulli has arrived in Cooktown where he is chairing the Queensland Disaster Management Committee.
He is due to address media later this morning and we will bring that to you live.
Damage assessments continue across Cape York Peninsula, where several communities remain without power following Tropical Cyclone Narelle.
50m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 11:07pm
Where is TC Narelle forecast to cross the NT?
Tropical Cyclone Narelle is tracking across the Gulf of Carpentaria, having crossed the Far North Queensland coast as a category four system.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast suggests the cyclone will cross the Northern Territory coast later today.
Follow the link below to see how the system is tracking.
1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 10:58pm
BOM issues warning for abnormally high tides
Areas that may be affected by high tides include Weipa, Aurukun, Pormpuraaw, Napranum and Old Mapoon. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)
A coastal hazard warning for abnormally high tides has been issued for people in parts of Peninsula and Gulf Country Forecast Districts.
There are elevated sea levels and waves as Tropical Cyclone Narelle moves westward over the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Abnormally high tides, which may lead to sea water flooding of low-lying coastal areas, are expected between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw.
Tides are likely to rise well above the normal high tide mark during the morning high tide.
Damaging surf conditions, which may lead to coastal erosion and localised damage to coastal infrastructure, are also possible.
Locations that may be affected include Weipa, Aurukun, Pormpuraaw, Napranum and Old Mapoon.
1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 10:44pm
Weipa residents urged to stay home, avoid sightseeing
Weipa Town Authority chairperson Jaime Gane says there are a number of trees down that have blocked roads and downed power lines.
“We have received a couple of reports that trees have fallen onto properties or onto the sides of properties, but in terms of structural damage from the winds, I think we have come out pretty good so far,” she says.
1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 10:31pm
Watch: Cyclone winds knock tree down in WenlockLoading…
Kerry McCallum has shared this video with us from Moreton Telegraph Station in Wenlock, just west of Lockhart River.
She says it is “pretty messy” where she is now preparing for major flooding.
1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 10:14pm
Water back on in Coen with restrictions
Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes says there were no major issues in Coen, where water has been turned back on, with restrictions in place.
She says she is hopeful power will be restored today.
She says with the rivers still flooding, it is likely there will be no road transport for four to five days.
Cr Holmes says while food supplies were fine, fuel is low in Coen.
“We will try and get fuel supplies in there as soon as the road is clear,” she says.
Cr Holmes says her immediate concern was for people on properties.
“We did have one property that had the roof taken off their home. They were sheltering in a container yesterday,” she says.
1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 10:03pm
Calm in Cooktown day after TC Narelle crossed Qld coast
(ABC News: Christopher Testa)
The ABC’s Christopher Testa is in Cooktown this morning.
It is to the south of where TC Narelle crossed eastern Cape York as a category four system.
He says the weather is calm there this morning with a rainbow emerging.
Premier David Crisafulli is due to travel to the region today to inspect damage from yesterday’s event.
2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 9:53pm
Latest Tropical Cyclone Narelle track map
TC Narelle is tracking quickly westwards towards the eastern Top End. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)
Here’s the latest information from the Bureau of Meteorology.
It is a category two system with sustained winds near the centre of 110km/h with gusts up to 155km/h.
It is over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria and moving west at 20km/h.
Narelle is forecast to strengthen during Saturday as it tracks quickly westwards towards the eastern Top End.
The BOM expects it will cross the eastern Top End coast overnight Saturday or early Sunday morning, most likely between Birany Birany and Numbulwar, as a severe tropical cyclone.
Narelle will then weaken as it moves inland across the Top End on Sunday and Monday.
A warning zone is current for Nhulunbuy to Port McArthur, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, and Gapuwiyak.
There is a watch zone extending west to include Ramingining, Bulman, and Ngukurr.
2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 9:46pm
‘Worse than anything we’ve seen before’: Weipa locals on TC Narelle
Nate Byrne with Scott Campbell and 11-year-old Riley in Weipa. (ABC News)
The ABC’s Nate Byrne has caught up with Scott Campbell and 11-year-old Riley in Weipa.
Scott says Tropical Cyclone Narelle has been wet and wild.
“We have seen a couple of other smaller cyclones come through, but this certainly tops the cake,” he says.
“This is worse than anything we’ve seen before.”
He says they are lucky to have been left with just a few trees and branches down, but unfortunately his neighbours have had a bit more damage.
“Our neighbours on both sides have lost fences, they’ve lost gates, panels and had a lot of tree damage,” he says.
Riley says it was “definitely scary” last night.Â
“We were going to let my dog out to go to the toilet and then a massive rush of wind came and nearly knocked me off my feet,” he says.
2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 9:41pm
SES says ‘be calm, be methodical’ during clean up
Wayne Coutts from the SES says while Far North Queensland has “dodged a bullet” from Cyclone Narelle, there is still danger in the clean-up.
He says there are often injuries from people using equipment they aren’t familiar with, or from fatigue.
“Be calm, be methodical as you start to recover your own properties,” he says.
“Think about your actions.
“If you’ve had a big long night listening to the wind, think about that fatigue.
“Take it easy so you don’t make mistakes.”
2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 9:36pm
Some communities lose power and water
Wayne Coutts from the SES says some communities in Queensland’s far north are without water and power at the moment.
But he says work is being done to restore both.
“The access to those places will be difficult,” he says.
“There are areas like Weipa, parts of Aurukun that don’t have power at the moment.”
2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 9:33pm
Queensland west coast ‘dodged a bullet’
SES far northern regional director Wayne Coutts says this morning in Queensland’s west coast there are numerous trees down and across roads, but overall the area had “dodged a bullet”.Â
“Damage to property seems very minimal at this point in time in the townships themselves,” he says.
“But [we] really have dodged a bullet at the moment, I would say.”
He says most requests this morning have been for sandbags.
“Most people had prepared themselves very, very well,” he says.
2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 9:31pm
ADF personnel on the ground to assist in the NT
Emergency management minister Kristy McBain says there’s ADF personnel already assisting with the flooding clean-up across Katherine and will assist if needed with the impact of TC Narelle.
She says the ADF has helped with evacuations, including moving people from Numbulwar to Darwin last night.
When asked about whether the current fuel situation would have an impact on the response to TC Narelle, Ms McBain said it would “absolutely not”.
“We have made sure we’ve got more reserves in Australia on Australian soil than ever before,” she says.
2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 9:26pmRainfall of up to 200mm expected daily
The BOM says communities in the NT can expect rainfall from 150 to 200mm daily with the passage of Cyclone Narelle.
The spokesperson says the system will continue to weaken and the risk for significant rainfall remains primarily from Sunday through to Monday.
“Into next week, the system will track over the northern Kimberly and move offshore into the Indian Ocean from Tuesday,” she says.
2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 9:22pmCyclone to cross Groote Eylandt as category 3
A BOM spokesperson says Tropical Cyclone Narelle is currently sitting in the Gulf of Carpenteria as a category two system.
She says the system will approach the north of Groote Eylandt as a category three.
“Impacts will start to be felt on the ground tonight by coastal communities,” she says.
The system is expected to cross between Numbulwar and Birany Birany.