Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

Marine Wind Warning Summary for Queensland

Issued at 09:00 PM EST on Friday 20 March 2026
for the period until midnight EST Saturday 21 March 2026

Wind Warnings for Friday 20 March
Storm Force Wind Warning for the following areas:
North East Gulf of Carpentaria
Gale Warning for the following areas:
South East Gulf of Carpentaria
Strong Wind Warning for the following areas:
Torres Strait and Peninsula Coast
Cancellation for the following areas:
Cooktown Coast

Wind Warnings for Saturday 21 March
Hurricane Force Wind Warning for the following areas:
South East Gulf of Carpentaria and North East Gulf of Carpentaria
Strong Wind Warning for the following areas:
Torres Strait

The next marine wind warning summary will be issued by 3:00 am EST Saturday.
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Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecast or Local
Waters Forecast at http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/map.shtml for information on wind,
wave and weather conditions for these coastal zones.
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Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: AUSTRALIA - Queensland
Issued by Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE
at: 0708 UTC 20/03/2026
Name: Tropical Cyclone Narelle
Identifier: 34U
Data At: 0600 UTC
Latitude: 13.3S
Longitude: 142.2E
Location Accuracy: within 15nm (30 km)
Movement Towards: west (280 deg)
Speed of Movement: 10 knots (18 km/h)
Maximum 10-Minute Wind: 55 knots (100 km/h)
Maximum 3-Second Wind Gust: 75 knots (140 km/h)
Central Pressure: 984 hPa
Radius of 34-knot winds NE quadrant: 40 nm (75 km)
Radius of 34-knot winds SE quadrant: 45 nm (85 km)
Radius of 34-knot winds SW quadrant: 40 nm (95 km)
Radius of 34-knot winds NW quadrant: 50 nm (95 km)
Radius of 48-knot winds NE quadrant: 20 nm (35 km)
Radius of 48-knot winds SE quadrant: 20 nm (35 km)
Radius of 48-knot winds SW quadrant: 20 nm (35 km)
Radius of 48-knot winds NW quadrant: 20 nm (35 km)
Radius of 64-knot winds:
Radius of Maximum Winds: 15 nm (30 km)
Dvorak Intensity Code: N/A
Pressure of outermost isobar: 1003 hPa
Radius of outermost closed isobar: 200 nm (370 km)

FORECAST DATA
Date/Time : Location : Loc. Accuracy: Max Wind : Central Pressure
(UTC) : degrees : nm (km): knots(km/h): hPa
+06: 20/1200: 13.4S 141.4E: 025 (050): 050 (095): 987
+12: 20/1800: 13.5S 140.3E: 035 (070): 055 (100): 984
+18: 21/0000: 13.5S 139.1E: 045 (080): 065 (120): 977
+24: 21/0600: 13.5S 138.1E: 045 (085): 075 (140): 969
+36: 21/1800: 13.7S 135.9E: 050 (095): 060 (110): 981
+48: 22/0600: 13.9S 133.5E: 050 (095): 030 (055): 999
+60: 22/1800: 13.9S 130.9E: 055 (105): 030 (055): 999
+72: 23/0600: 14.3S 128.4E: 065 (115): 035 (065): 996
+96: 24/0600: 15.1S 123.8E: 085 (155): 030 (055): 999
+120: 25/0600: 15.9S 119.4E: 105 (195): 055 (100): 984

REMARKS:
Tropical cyclone Narelle has weakened to category 2 strength as it moves west over land towards the Gulf of Carpentaria. The centre remains trackable on Weipa radar with reasonable confidence. Satellite imagery shows a centre displaced to the west, suggesting the system is becoming somewhat tilted under moderate to strong easterly deep layer shear. Subjective Dvorak is no longer applicable with the centre over land, with most objective aids similar. Peripheral gales are occurring intermittently at Weipa, some 80 km to the NNW of the estimated centre. There have been no other recent proximate observations. Intensity estimated at 55 kn based on a standard decay rate over land, with low confidence. CIMMS wind shear analysis at 0300 UTC shows upper easterlies over the system contributing to an analysed deep layer wind shear of around 25 to 30 knots. The system is forecast to maintain low end category 2 strength as it moves into the Gulf of Carpentaria over water again tonight. Environmental conditions are forecast to remain similar with the system lying near the northern periphery of the upper ridge and potentially continuing to experience moderate to strong easterly shear, offset by a very moist environment with warm SSTs (>29C) along the forecast track. Most NWP guidance suggests reintensification and category 3 strength is forecast prior to landfall on the eastern Northern Territory coast on Saturday night, which is consistent with a standard rate of development. A strong mid-level ridge extending across Australia into the Coral Sea will remain the dominant steering mechanism for Narelle well into next week. There is high confidence in a westward forecast track across northern Australia. Following landfall over the Northern Territory overnight on Saturday, Narelle will then move across the Top End and off the Kimberley coast next week, where redevelopment into a tropical cyclone is again likely.

Copyright Commonwealth of Australia
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The next bulletin for this system will be issued by: 20/1330 UTC.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, National Water Operations

Major Flood Warning For The Lower Flinders River
Issued at 01:12 PM AEST on Friday 20 March 2026
Flood Warning Number: 36

MAJOR FLOODING CONTINUING AT WALKERS BEND
Major flooding is continuing along the lower Flinders River at Walkers Bend, where river levels are slowly falling. Renewed river level rises above the major flood level are possible at Walkers Bend into next week as floodwaters arrive from upstream.
Showers and thunderstorms are possible over the next few days, however these are not expected to significantly affect river levels.

Flinders River downstream of Richmond:
Major flooding is continuing along the Flinders River downstream of Richmond.
The Flinders River at Walkers Bend is currently at 8.77 m and falling, with major flooding.
The Flinders River at Walkers Bend is likely to continue to fall, but remain above the major flood level (8.00 m), during the weekend. With the arrival of upstream floodwaters renewed river level rises above the major flood level are possible from early next week.

Flood Safety Advice:
Don't drive, walk, swim or play in floodwater because it is dangerous.
Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways.
Obey road closure signs. Plan ahead so you don't drive on flooded roads.
Check the ABC and local media for updates. The situation can change quickly, so stay informed.
For local emergency management warnings and advice visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings.}
For emergency assistance call SES on telephone number 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 (triple zero) immediately.

Next issue:
The next warning will be issued by 03:00 PM AEST on Monday 23 March 2026.

Latest River Heights:
Flinders River at Glendower Crossing,0.77,steady,12:00 pm Fri 20/03/26
Porcupine Creek at Mt Emu Plains,1.71,steady,12:00 pm Fri 20/03/26
Flinders River at Punchbowl,2.70,falling,12:00 pm Fri 20/03/26
Flinders River at Etta Plains,9.37,steady,12:00 pm Fri 20/03/26
Julia Creek,1.50,steady,12:00 pm Fri 20/03/26
Gilliat River at Wills Development Road,4.84,falling,12:00 pm Fri 20/03/26
Cloncurry River at Cloncurry,1.50,steady,12:00 pm Fri 20/03/26
Cloncurry River at Canobie,7.39,steady,12:00 pm Fri 20/03/26
Flinders River at Walkers Bend,8.77,falling,12:00 pm Fri 20/03/26

This advice is also available by dialling 1300 659 219. Warning, rainfall and river information are available at http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood.