Western Australia<\/a>‘s Kimberley coast.<\/p>\nWhen it reaches the NT, it is likely to be downgraded to a category three storm.<\/p>\n
The cyclone is expected to intensify into a category five system at 7pm on Thursday\u00a0<\/p>\n
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli urged residents to prepare immediately, with monstrous winds set to batter parts of the state on Thursday.<\/p>\n
‘By this time tomorrow you’re not going to be able to go to the shops and pick up what you haven’t got,’ he says.<\/p>\n
‘Do those little things today.’<\/p>\n
![\"Queensland](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/107244463-15659151-image-a-9_1773869785128.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Queensland residents have been warned today is the last day to prepare as a category four cyclone barrels towards the state<\/p>\n
Cooktown, north of Cairns, appears to be in the system’s sights after it makes landfall further north at Coen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Crisafulli warned it would bring powerful winds that many residents had never experienced before in their life.<\/p>\n
‘It’ll actually go across, and it’ll still be packing a punch as it goes through the Gulf on the western side as well,’ he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘We’re just asking people to take it seriously because it is a big system.’\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The last time the state experienced such a powerful weather system was when Tropical Cyclone Trevor hit in 2019.<\/p>\n
A warning zone has been declared between Lockhart River and Cape Tribulation.<\/p>\n
A watch zone has been established across the Central Peninsula between Kowanyama and Weipa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than 100 emergency services personnel have been deployed to the areas that are expected to be hardest hit.<\/p>\n
![\"Like](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/107244469-15659151-image-a-10_1773869811029.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Like many laid-back locals, Luke Pote doesn’t usually stay up to date with weather advice at his remote community (pictured, flooding in Chinchilla on March 13)<\/p>\n
The Queensland Fire Department has advised residents to bring themselves up to date on the location of the refuge centres.<\/p>\n
‘It’s been a full on wet season and we’re not finished yet,’ Cairns Division Acting Superintendent Neal Getti said.<\/p>\n
‘We’re going to get a lot of rain with this system. Please don’t enter floodwaters.’<\/p>\n
Despite the extreme conditions, residents like Luke Pote are continuing business as usual.<\/p>\n
Mr Pote owns Cooktown Orchid Travellers Park, one of the town’s only grocery stores.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘We’ve got heaps of beer, food and fuel – we’re good to go,’ he said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
‘We don’t worry about it until it’s right on our doorstop. There’s nothing you can do about it anyway.<\/p>\n
‘The generators are ready to go – we plan for the wet season every year. We stock up on potatoes and pumpkins.’<\/p>\n
Mr Pote was shocked to discover the strength of Narelle.<\/p>\n
‘Really? Wow. I try not to watch the weather, but oh well. She’ll be right,’ he said.<\/p>\n
‘Honestly, it hasn’t been that bad – there’s not too much panic buying yet, I reckon there might be a bit of a rush though if we get hit by a five.<\/p>\n
‘But there’s not much you can do but wait it out and get ready for the clean-up.’<\/p>\n
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