{"id":549613,"date":"2026-03-19T02:23:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T02:23:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/549613\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T02:23:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T02:23:11","slug":"residents-warned-to-prepare-now-as-tropical-cyclone-narelle-bears-down-on-far-north-queensland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/549613\/","title":{"rendered":"Residents warned to prepare now as tropical cyclone Narelle bears down on Far North Queensland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Residents are being warned to brace for what could be one of the strongest tropical cyclones to hit Far North Queensland<\/a> in more than 10 years.<\/p>\n

Evacuations are already underway as Premier David Crisafulli urged Cape York residents to prepare for Tropical Cyclone<\/a> Narelle \u2014 which could make landfall as a category 4 or category 5 storm.<\/p>\n

Winds of up to 200km\/h and about 450mm of rain are being predicted.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a serious situation and the window to act is obviously closing,\u201d Crisafulli said during a news conference in Brisbane<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re asking people to take those final bits of precaution and do the final little bits of work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The last category 4 storm hit northern Queensland in 2017, and the last category 5 in 2015.<\/p>\n

Four people have been evacuated from Port Stewart and taken to Cook Town, with nearby Lizard Island also evacuated of all but a handful of resort staff.<\/p>\n

The premier said resources have been brought into remote northern communities to help, including 49 police officers, 74 fire and rescue crews and 20 paramedics.<\/p>\n

Some residents who require medicines such as dialysis and pregnant women have also been given the opportunity to relocate now ahead of the cyclone.<\/p>\n

\"TropicalTropical Cyclone Narelle could hit land as a category five system, according to forecasters. Credit: BOM<\/p>\n

\u201cTropical Cyclone Narelle was named on Tuesday afternoon in the Coral Sea, becoming the 10th named tropical cyclone within the Australian region this season,\u201d senior meteorologist Jonathan How said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is moving towards the northern Queensland coast where it is expected to cross on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cAhead of this crossing, a tropical cyclone watch has been issued for communities between Lockhart River and Port Douglas and then also inland, including Cowen, Cooktown and Woodjill Woodjill.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently a category 2 system, Narelle is located in the northern Coral Sea about 1,100km to the northeast of Cairns.<\/p>\n

It will continue to approach the coast and further strengthen into Thursday.<\/p>\n

\"PremierPremier David Crisafulli has warned remote communities to be prepared. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

It is expected to cross the coast just to the north of Cape Melville near Cohen on Friday morning as a severe category 4 or category 5 system with wind gusts of more than 200km\/h.<\/p>\n

There are some predictions about 450mm of rain could fall in some areas, with forecasts of both flooding and significantly above-normal high tides for areas such as Princess Charlotte Bay.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could even see some pockets of heavy falls all the way down to about Cairns,\u201d How said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven after crossing, we can expect to still see heavy rainfall across northern Queensland on Saturday and Sunday and then, as Narelle moves over the Gulf, the focus will shift into the eastern Top End where communities can expect damaging to destructive winds and heavy rainfall later into the weekend and into early next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once Tropical Cyclone Narelle crosses the coast, it is expected to maintain its cyclone intensity as it moves over Cape York Peninsula and then over the Gulf of Carpentaria, where it could strengthen again before making a second landfall over the eastern coast of the Northern Territory\u2019s Top End.<\/p>\n

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