Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle was a strong, unusual, and long-lasting tropical cyclone that made multiple landfalls in Australia, specifically in the Kimberley region, Far North Queensland, and the Top End, in March 2026. It was the twenty-first tropical low, tenth tropical cyclone, and sixth severe tropical cyclone of the 2025–26 Australian region cyclone season. Narelle formed from a tropical disturbance south of the Solomon Islands on 15 March. During its early stages, the cyclone was called Tropical Low 34U by the Bureau of Meteorology and initially moved east before turning south and moving away from the country. At the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) upgraded the system to a tropical cyclone, naming it 27P. Soon after, the system became a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and was given the name Narelle by the Bureau of Meteorology. Over the next few days, Narelle developed quickly and became a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale) the following day. On 20 March, the storm made landfall on the Cape York Peninsula as a Category 4 cyclone on the Australian scale, just south-southeast of Cape Sidmouth. Later, Narelle weakened to a Category 2 cyclone before moving over the Gulf of Carpentaria.
By 21 March, the cyclone began to strengthen again and reached a secondary peak as a Category 3 cyclone on the Australian scale, or a high-end Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. That evening, the storm made landfall in East Arnhem with winds of the same strength and a pressure of about 973 hPa (mbar). After this second landfall, Narelle weakened to a tropical low as it moved across the northern part of the Northern Territory on 22 March. The next day, it briefly emerged over the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf before making a third landfall in Kimberley as a Category 1 cyclone on the Australian scale (a tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale) with winds of 75 km/h (47 mph). Narelle continued moving across the northeastern corner of Western Australia as a tropical low, maintaining minimal tropical storm status on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
On 24 March, the cyclone emerged over the far eastern Indian Ocean. Now a larger and broader system, Narelle began its final period of intensification. On 26 March, the cyclone reached a fourth peak as a Category 4 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale (a high-end Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale), with a large eye visible. Later that day, Narelle began to weaken. By the next morning, it made its fourth and final landfall in Western Australia, just south of Coral Bay, as a Category 3 cyclone on the Australian scale. Overnight, Narelle weakened into a remnant low and eventually became a broad extratropical cyclone south of Australia the following day.
Meteorological history
On 9 March, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicted a tropical low might form in the eastern Coral Sea within the next 7 days and gave it the name 34U. This prediction became true on 15 March, when the BOM reported the system had developed south of the Solomon Islands. That same day, the low pressure system was officially called a tropical low. Later, the system moved slowly westward before quickly turning south. Just one day after forming, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center observed the system, which the BOM still classified as a tropical low. On 17 March, the BOM upgraded the tropical low to a Category 1 tropical cyclone near Papua New Guinea and named it Narelle. The cyclone strengthened steadily, reaching hurricane force on 18 March. Narelle then accelerated toward Queensland at an unusually fast speed of 24 km/h (15 mph). On 18 March, the BOM officially labeled Narelle a severe tropical cyclone, making it the sixth storm of the season.
On 19 March, Narelle reached Category 5 intensity, becoming the strongest storm of the season. At its peak, the BOM estimated Narelle had 10-minute sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), gusts of 315 km/h (195 mph), and pressure levels of 925 hPa (mbar). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated 1-minute sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph) and pressure levels of 926 hPa (mbar). At 07:00 local time on 20 March 2026, Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall 200 km (120 mi) east-southeast of Weipa, Queensland, as a high-end Category 4 severe tropical cyclone. After making landfall, Narelle weakened quickly and became a Category 2 tropical cyclone by 18:00 local time that day. In the Gulf of Carpentaria, the cyclone began to strengthen again, reaching a second peak intensity the following afternoon. At this stage, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated Narelle had winds of 150 km/h (95 mph).
On 22 March 2026, at 03:30 local time, Narelle made its second landfall near Point Arrowsmith, East Arnhem. After this landfall, Narelle weakened significantly as it moved westward across the Northern Territory. The next evening, Narelle became a tropical low but continued moving toward Kimberley. The following morning, Narelle left Kimberley again, still a tropical low, and made its third landfall in Kimberley with 1-minute sustained winds of 70 km/h (45 mph). On 24 March at 12:00, Narelle exited Kimberley and entered the Indian Ocean, becoming one of the few Australian region tropical cyclones to be present in both the Coral Sea and the Indian Ocean. At this time, Narelle was a weak, broad system with favorable conditions ahead. Over the next few days, Narelle strengthened again, becoming a severe tropical cyclone on 25 March. It reached Category 4 intensity near Exmouth before making its fourth landfall there on 27 March. That
Preparations
In response to the arrival of Cyclone Narelle, the Queensland State Emergency Service, along with the Australian Defence Force, organized a large effort to prepare food, medical supplies, and satellite communication equipment across the Cape York Peninsula. Before the cyclone arrived, tourists were moved to safety, and schools were closed. A planned evacuation of 500 people from Numbulwar to Darwin continued for several days because of flooding and the risk of water-related illnesses.
Shelter-in-place orders were given for people in Queensland. Emergency alerts were sent to Coen, Lockhart River, and Port Stewart. A tropical cyclone warning was issued between Lockhart River and Cape Tribulation. Many people were evacuated from Port Stewart and Numbulwar. Bauxite mines operated by Rio Tinto in Queensland and manganese mines operated by South32 and Anglo American in the Northern Territory were temporarily closed. In Katherine, a field hospital was set up to prepare for Cyclone Narelle.
Impact
Ergon Energy said that 3,000 homes and buildings lost power because of strong winds from Narelle. Telstra reported that four cell phone towers stopped working due to Narelle. About 200 mm (7.9 in) of rain fell over the Cape York Peninsula and northern Northern Territory. Wind gusts as strong as 115 kilometers per hour (71 mph) were recorded in Lockhart River. The Daly River reached major flood levels and stayed that way for weeks. Over 350 mm (14 in) of rain fell in Ningaloo Reef. In Western Australia, red skies were seen because dust from the storm scattered blue light. Perth received the highest March rainfall in 91 years, since 1934.
In Aurukun, a barbecue shelter was damaged when a tree fell. Telephone signals were lost in western coastal areas like Aurukun. Trees fell and building roofs were torn off in Queensland because of the storm. Cairns reported serious coastal erosion caused by Narelle. Coen’s water supplies were turned off.
As the storm made its fourth landfall, it caused major damage and flooding in Exmouth, including damage to the town’s airport and several buildings. Infrastructure at Chevron Corporation and Woodside Energy facilities in the Exmouth region was damaged, which stopped gasoline production. The storm killed more than 1,000 sea turtles, 200 seabirds, 30 whales and dolphins, and some sea snakes. A mobile hospital was sent to help animals near Exmouth. Banana farms in Carnarvon had to stop production for the rest of the year after damage from Cyclone Mitchell and a heat wave. Moisture from the storm later mixed with a weather system as it moved toward Western Australia, causing flooding in Mandurah after the city received 102.8 mm (4.05 in) of rain in 24 hours.
Aftermath
The Australian Defence Force was sent to Katherine. After the cyclone, 50 lineworkers were sent to fix power and 16 rural communities were checked for damage. The cyclone Narelle harmed the first coral spawning event at Ningaloo Reef since a big heat wave the year before.
After Narelle, Charles III wrote a letter asking for more action against climate change, stating that the Northern Territory was among the areas most affected by the event.