{"id":355408,"date":"2026-03-20T02:48:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T02:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/355408\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T02:48:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T02:48:14","slug":"tropical-cyclone-narelle-live-updates-far-north-queensland-takes-cover-as-severe-system-tears-into-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/355408\/","title":{"rendered":"Tropical Cyclone Narelle live updates: Far North Queensland takes cover as severe system tears into coast"},"content":{"rendered":"

5h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 9:07pmStay up to date with the latest emergency warnings\"Claudia<\/p>\n

You can head to\u00a0the ABC Emergency website<\/a>\u00a0for all updates, including a map of all warnings.<\/p>\n

ABC Emergency will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio, which you can stream on\u00a0the ABC Listen App.<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are the radio frequencies for local stations:<\/p>\n

Cairns and surrounds:\u00a0801 AM and 106.7 FMCairns North:\u00a095.5 FMCoen:\u00a0105.9 FMCooktown:\u00a0105.7 FMLakeland:\u00a0106.1 FMLaura:\u00a0106.1 FMMossman and surrounds (including Daintree, Port Douglas):\u00a0639 AMWeipa:\u00a01044 AM<\/p>\n

ABC Far North is also available on Channel 211 through the VAST satellite service.<\/p>\n

You can also keep across the latest warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology\u00a0on its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 2:43am<\/p>\n

State has the back of local councils for clean up\"Liana<\/p>\n

The Queensland premier says the state has the back of local councils when it comes to clean up.<\/p>\n

David Crisafulli says they will work quickly to get houses repaired and schools reopened.<\/p>\n

“I can’t stress how important it is that we do that swiftly,” he says.<\/p>\n

He says having people on the ground will help bring a sense of calm.<\/p>\n

9m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 2:38am<\/p>\n

Cyclone to intensify as it crosses gulf, premier says\"Liana<\/p>\n

Premier David Crisafulli has just provided another update on ABC News Channel.<\/p>\n

He says the cyclone is moving quickly west and is expected to intensify as it crosses the Gulf of Carpentaria.<\/p>\n

He praises the people of Far North Queensland for overwhelmingly doing the right thing and sheltering in place when needed.<\/p>\n

23m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 2:24am<\/p>\n

Archer River seeing significant rises\"Ned<\/p>\n

That’s where we’ll leave the Northern Territory authorities’ press conference.<\/p>\n

Back in Queensland, taking quick look at a traffic camera<\/a> over the Archer River shows just how much rivers have swelled since Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall this morning.<\/p>\n

Pictured here is a before-and-after of\u00a0Peninsula Development Road, where it crosses the Archer River in Far North Queensland.<\/p>\n

\"Traffic(Dept. of Transport and Main Roads)<\/p>\n

32m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 2:15am<\/p>\n

Evacuees coming to Darwin\"Jason<\/p>\n

NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole says authorities are managing many evacuees from across the Northern Territory, but they are confident they have enough accommodation.<\/p>\n

He says Nightcliff High School is only being used as a staging area for evacuees from Numbulwar, who will later move to Foskey Pavilion at the Darwin Showgrounds.<\/p>\n

Evacuees from Daly River and Palumpa, who have been in Darwin for a number of days, are being moved to accommodation in Batchelor.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Dole says the Centre for National Resilience at Howard Springs is not being considered for housing evacuees.<\/p>\n

37m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 2:10am<\/p>\n

Nhulunbuy on watch but impact expected to be less\"Jason<\/p>\n

Nhulunbuy, another major population centre in the NT, is now included in the cyclone watch area.<\/p>\n

Shenagh Gamble from the BOM says TC Narelle is expected to hit Nhulunbuy as a category two storm.<\/p>\n

She says residents can expect strong winds of up to 160km\/h and heavy rainfall.<\/p>\n

Flash flooding is also possible.<\/p>\n

40m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 2:07am<\/p>\n

Preparedness a ‘shared community responsibility’\"Jason<\/p>\n

NT Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Warton said:<\/p>\n

“While we do everything we can to serve and protect the public, emergency services can’t be everywhere – emergency preparedness is a shared community responsibility.<\/p>\n

He acknowledged many have been affected by the recent weather events.<\/p>\n

“But I urge you not to be complacent, we’re not through this yet – prepare now,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Stay informed by listening to ABC, the emergency broadcaster, follow SecureNT, please be prepared, be informed and stay safe.”<\/p>\n

43m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 2:03am<\/p>\n

How you can prepare for the cyclone in the NT\"Jason<\/p>\n

NT Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Warton says people should be preparing for what is to come, explaining the warnings we can expect.<\/p>\n

A watch and act alert will come with an orange symbol, which indicates people should take action preparing their property.<\/p>\n

“If you plan to shelter elsewhere, you should leave at this stage,” Mr Warton says.<\/p>\n

When TC Narelle is imminent, a warning alert, with a red symbol, will be issued. This means sheltering indoors as your life could be at risk.<\/p>\n

46m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 2:01amSeventh high-risk weather event for the NT this season\"Jason<\/p>\n

Andrew Warton, Commissioner of NT Fire and Emergency Services, has thanked emergency services for their endurance through the season.<\/p>\n

“This is the seventh high-risk weather event the Northern Territory has endured over the past five months,” he said.<\/p>\n

“What that means is that our river systems across the Top End are at a state of responsiveness.”<\/p>\n

He urged people to check their cyclone kits and have their cyclone plans in place.<\/p>\n

What you need in your emergency kit for cyclones and severe weather<\/a>.<\/p>\n

49m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 1:58am<\/p>\n

Darwin not directly impacted but should expect heavy rain\"Jason<\/p>\n

Shenagh Gamble from the BOM says TC Narelle is not expected to directly impact Darwin and surrounds, however as the system passes to the south, residents should expect heavy rain.<\/p>\n

Nhulunbuy, Borroloola, Groote Eylandt, Numbulwar, Ngkurr and Bulman are currently under cyclone watch, with the BOM expecting to upgrade the alert to a warning for some communities this afternoon.<\/p>\n

A flood watch is current for all of the Top End, and major flood warnings are in place for Katherine, Beswick and the Daly River region.<\/p>\n

54m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 1:53amKatherine warned to expect major flooding\"Jason<\/p>\n

The BOM’s Shenagh Gamble says the Katherine river responds very quickly to rain and the catchment is already saturated, so rain in or around the town will likely cause flooding.<\/p>\n

The area is expected to receive\u00a0 between 150mm and 200mm of rain in the coming days.<\/p>\n

Ms Gamble says\u00a0residents should prepare for a potential flooding event on Monday morning.<\/p>\n

55m agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 1:51am<\/p>\n

TC Narelle expected to impact the NT from tomorrow afternoon\"Jason<\/p>\n

BOM spokesperson Shenagh Gamble says the central core of the cyclone will pass over Groote Eylandt overnight tomorrow as a category three system, with peak wind gusts of up to 200km\/h.<\/p>\n

This expected to cause power outages and structural damage.<\/p>\n

She says further out from the central core there is still a risk of damaging winds.<\/p>\n

Tides will also be higher than usual and around 200mm of rain is expected, which may lead to flash flooding.<\/p>\n

1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 1:44am<\/p>\n

Field hospital being set up in Katherine\"Jason<\/p>\n

Len Notaras from the Australian National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre is speaking now.<\/p>\n

He says the field hospital in Katherine will have senior staff deployed to the area to assist the work already going on across the region.<\/p>\n

“Folk have been through a lot already and they will be going through a lot more,” he says.<\/p>\n

Mr Notaras says his team will be able to take the burden off the Katherine hospital that could occur during the forecast flooding.<\/p>\n

1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 1:39am<\/p>\n

NT authorities are giving an update on preparations for TC Narelle\"Jason<\/p>\n

Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley\u00a0says Tropical Cyclone Narelle is expected to hit the NT coast as a category three or four storm.<\/p>\n

He says it is expected to cause significant flooding events right across the territory.<\/p>\n

A major flood alert has been issued for Katherine, with major to moderate flooding over the weekend and a field hospital is also being set up in the town.<\/p>\n

1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 1:25am<\/p>\n

Cooktown bracing for rain as cyclone crosses to the north\"Claudia\"\"Cooktown local\u00a0Steve Hodkinson\u00a0 (ABC NewsL Christopher Testa)<\/p>\n

Cooktown is not in the direct path of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. It was initially in the warning zone but that alert was cancelled in the early hours of this morning.<\/p>\n

Local\u00a0Steve Hodkinson says he is expecting rain from the system will cause roads to be cut.<\/p>\n

“We will be short of food and that sort of thing but we will survive,” he says.<\/p>\n

“The people who live here, we are used to a cyclone season.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Steve says his thoughts are with those who are in the cyclone’s path.<\/p>\n

“It’s a dangerous time and we hope everyone is safe and well prepared,” he says.<\/p>\n

It is the first time Kim Sadleir has been near a cyclone and says it has been “a little bit nerve-racking”.<\/p>\n

She says the focus now is on keeping the kids occupied and trying to stay out of the weather.<\/p>\n

1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 1:18am<\/p>\n

Latest tracking map shows TC Narelle as category three system\"Claudia\"\"Tropical Cyclone Narelle is now a category three system. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)<\/p>\n

Tropical Cyclone Narelle started crossing the coast at about 7am as a category four system.<\/p>\n

As we reported earlier, it has now been downgraded to a category three system.<\/p>\n

It’s now moving westwards, currently passing about 45 kilometres north of Coen.<\/p>\n

The warning zone is from Cape York Peninsula between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, and between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw, including Coen, Weipa, and Aurukun.<\/p>\n

There are sustained winds near the centre of 155km\/h with wind gusts up to 220km\/h.<\/p>\n

1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 1:02am<\/p>\n

Cairns impacts in photos\"Ned<\/p>\n

Despite being about 600km away from the eye of the storm, Cairns is copping some heavy seas.<\/p>\n

These photos, captured by Shelley Sparrow at Trinity Beach,\u00a0show the shore being pummelled by a large storm surge.<\/p>\n

\"a\"a\"a<\/p>\n

1h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 12:50am<\/p>\n

Heaviest rain on northern edge of system\"Ned<\/p>\n

ABC meteorologist Thomas Saunders has pointed out an interesting quirk of Cyclone Narelle as communities deal with heavy rain and winds.<\/p>\n

“An interesting feature of Cyclone Narelle is [that] the heaviest rain is currently concentrated on the northern flank of the eye, where winds are westerly (offshore),” he says.<\/p>\n

“A typical cyclone hitting the east coast of Queensland delivers the heaviest rain on the southern side, where winds are easterly and onshore.<\/p>\n

“This feature is clearly visible on radar images.”<\/p>\n

You can see what he’s talking about below.<\/p>\n

\"A(BOM)2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 12:40amTropical Cyclone Narelle downgraded to category three\"Liam<\/p>\n

The Bureau of Meteorology says Tropical Cyclone Narelle has weakened to a category three system.<\/p>\n

Senior Meteorologist Sarah Scully says it has sustained winds near the centre of 155km\/h but gusting up to 220km\/h.<\/p>\n

“Its current location is 45 kilometres north of Coen,” she says.<\/p>\n

“Wind wise, the strongest gusts we’ve observed sofar has been 115km\/h gust at Lockhart River, however much stronger gusts are expected across the area where we haven’t got the weather stations there to record them. “<\/p>\n

She says the rainfall totals have been picking up with 239mm recorded at at Wenlock River and 201mm at Pascoe River.<\/p>\n

TC Narelle is continuing to move westwards at around 20km\/h.<\/p>\n

The BOM will release its next tracking map in about 10 minutes.<\/p>\n

2h agoFri 20 Mar 2026 at 12:33am<\/p>\n

Non-stop winds in Coen\"Liam<\/p>\n

Coen resident Jackie Perry has told ABC Far North the wind is blowing non-stop at her home.<\/p>\n

“It started around 3 o’clock or 4 o’clock this morning, and it’s just got stronger over the past few hours,” she says.<\/p>\n

“Every now and again, you’ll get a tiny little lull, but then it starts up again.”<\/p>\n

She says she and her family are comfortable for the time being, but she had heard from neigbours that parts of Coen had lost power.<\/p>\n

She’s heard from friends who live at Princess Charlotte Bay, south-east of Coen, who had evacuated before the system passed over the coast.<\/p>\n

“They’re very worried they will go back to not having a home down there,” she says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"5h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 9:07pmStay up to date with the latest emergency warnings You can head…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":355409,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[161380,161381,161116,246,1626,61,60,47186,15679,161378,161379,82,161377,161376],"class_list":["post-355408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-cyclone-forecast","tag-cyclone-live-updates","tag-cyclone-narelle","tag-environment","tag-forecast","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-qld","tag-queensland","tag-queensland-cyclone","tag-queensland-weather","tag-science","tag-troical-cyclone","tag-tropical-cyclone-narelle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=355408"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355408\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/355409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=355408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=355408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=355408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}