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Cyclone Narelle Threatens Far North Queensland
18 Mar
Summary
- Tropical Cyclone Narelle, a category four storm, is expected to make landfall soon.
- Destructive wind gusts may hit Queensland's cape from Lockhart River to Cooktown.
- Northern Territory communities, recovering from floods, face potential cyclone impacts.
Far North Queensland is on high alert as Tropical Cyclone Narelle intensifies and heads towards the coast. Expected to make landfall as early as Friday, the category-four storm poses a significant threat, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of destructive wind gusts from Lockhart River to Cooktown. Heavy rainfall is also predicted for areas including Port Douglas and Cairns.
Adding to the concern, the cyclone is forecast to reform over the Gulf of Carpentaria and make a second landfall in the Northern Territory later in the week as a category-three system. This potential impact comes as Northern Territory communities, particularly Katherine, are still recovering from their worst floods in nearly 30 years. Authorities are preparing for a possible cyclone event, despite uncertainty about its exact path.
In response to the ongoing flood crisis, the Northern Territory government has allocated a $100 million recovery fund for damaged infrastructure. Emergency services have undertaken several rescues, including individuals swept into floodwaters near Alice Springs and Beswick. Fifty Australian Defence Force troops have been deployed to aid Katherine's recovery, supported by emergency services from Victoria and low-risk prisoners assisting with the clean-up efforts.
