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Australia Braces for Category 4 Cyclone Narelle, Thousands Under Emergency Warning

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, now a Category 4 storm, is approaching the northeast coast of Queensland and could intensify further before landfall. Emergency warnings have been issued for a 600-km stretch of coastline, with communities like Cooktown and Lockhart River urged to prepare for destructive winds over 250 km/h and heavy rainfall. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has called on residents to take the storm seriously and stock emergency supplies. The system is expected to temporarily weaken while crossing the Cape York Peninsula before potentially re-intensifying over the Gulf of Carpentaria and impacting the Northern Territory over the weekend.

Key Points: Cyclone Narelle: Australia Issues Emergency Warnings for Queensland

  • Category 4 cyclone could intensify
  • 250 km/h destructive wind gusts expected
  • Emergency warning for 600-km coastal stretch
  • Evacuations ordered in remote communities
  • Storm may re-intensify after crossing peninsula
2 min read

Australia warned to prepare for severe tropical cyclone

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle approaches Queensland as a Category 4 storm, prompting evacuations and warnings of 250 km/h winds and flash flooding.

"We're just asking people to take it seriously because it is a big system. - David Crisafulli"

Sydney, March 19

Emergency warnings have been issued for thousands of people as Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle approaches the northeast coast of Australia's Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said in an update at 7 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time on Thursday (2100 GMT on Wednesday) that Tropical Cyclone Narelle had reached Category 4 strength and could intensify into a Category 5 storm before making landfall early on Friday.

The BoM said that very destructive wind gusts in excess of 250 km per hour are possible near the center of the cyclone when it crosses the coast, and that heavy rainfall, which could cause flash flooding, is expected to hit from Thursday evening.

"A severe impact is likely," it said.

It said that the storm was about 440 km off the east coast of Queensland's Cape York Peninsula on Thursday morning and moving west at a speed of 25 km per hour.

An emergency warning has been issued for a 600-km stretch of the peninsula's east coast, including Cooktown with a population of around 1,800 people and the 500-person Aboriginal community of Lockhart River.

David Crisafulli, the premier of Queensland, said that people in the emergency warning area should stock up on emergency supplies.

"We're just asking people to take it seriously because it is a big system," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation television.

The BoM is forecasting that the cyclone will temporarily weaken as it crosses a 220-km wide stretch of the Cape York Peninsula before reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria and again intensifying to a severe system and impacting the Northern Territory (NT) over the weekend, Xinhua news agency reported.

Authorities in the NT said on Wednesday night that around 500 people in the remote community of Numbulwar would be evacuated over the coming days as a precaution.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Reading this while our own cyclone season is approaching. Australia's warning system seems very proactive. We could learn a thing or two about timely evacuations and clear communication for our coastal states like Odisha and Andhra.
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David E
The mention of the Aboriginal community of Lockhart River is important. Often, remote and indigenous communities are the most vulnerable in such disasters. Glad to see they are included in the emergency warnings. Hope the supplies reach them.
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Aman W
Category 5? That's terrifying. The cyclone weakening over land and then intensifying again over the Gulf shows how unpredictable these systems can be. Stay safe, everyone in the path.
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Sarah B
The Premier's advice to stock up is crucial. After seeing the aftermath of cyclones like Fani and Amphan in India, I know how important it is to have water, medicines, and torches ready. Hope people are listening.
K
Karthik V
A respectful criticism: The article mentions the storm's path impacting the Northern Territory over the weekend, but it would be helpful to have a simple map or graphic. Text descriptions of 600-km stretches can be hard to visualize for international readers.
N
Nisha Z
Nature's fury knows no borders. Whether it's Australia's coast or India's eastern shoreline,

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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