Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Australia

Flood Watch For The Cape York Peninsula And Parts Of The North Tropical Coast
Issued at 12:13 PM AEST on Friday 20 March 2026
Flood Watch Number: 19
FURTHER MINOR TO MODERATE WITH ISOLATED MAJOR RIVERINE FLOODING POSSIBLE FROM FRIDAY
WIDESPREAD FLOODING EXPECTED TO BE OCCURRING ACROSS CAPE YORK PENINSULA

Catchments likely to be affected include:
Jacky Jacky Creek
Olive and Pascoe Rivers
Lockhart River
Stewart River
Normanby River
Jeannie River
Endeavour River
Daintree River
Mossman River
Barron River
Mulgrave and Russell Rivers
Johnstone River
Tully River
Murray River
Herbert River
Staaten River
Mitchell River
Coleman and Edward Rivers
Holroyd and Kendall Rivers
Archer and Coen Rivers
Watson River
Embley and Mission Rivers
Wenlock River
Ducie, Jackson and Skardon Rivers
Jardine River

Flood Warnings are current for the following catchment(s): Daintree, Mossman, Mulgrave and Russell, Tully and Herbert

For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts
For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood

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 Flood Watch will be issued by 02:00 PM AEST on Saturday 21 March 2026.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Tropical Cyclone Advice
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

Media: Transmitters serving the area between Lockhart River and Cape Melville and inland to Weipa and Pormpuraaw are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning.

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 20
Issued at 10:49 AM EST on Friday 20 March 2026

Headline:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle moving inland across Cape York Peninsula, now category 3.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Cape York Peninsula between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, and between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw, including Coen, Weipa, and Aurukun.

Watch zone: Northern Territory: Nhulunbuy to Port McArthur, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, Ngukurr and Bulman.

Cancelled zone: None.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle 34U at 10:00 am AEST:
Intensity: Category 3, sustained winds near the centre of 155 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 220 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 30 kilometres of 13.4 degrees South 143.2 degrees East, estimated to be 45 kilometres north of Coen and 740 kilometres east of Alyangula.
Movement: west at 21 kilometres per hour.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle crossed the Queensland coast around 7am AEST about 75 kilometres south of Lockhart River as a category 4 system.
Narelle is now moving westwards, currently passing about 45 kilometres north of Coen, and has weakened to category 3. It is forecast to move west over Cape York Peninsula today, continuing to weaken but remaining a tropical cyclone. Narelle will then continue to move west across the Gulf of Carpentaria, and is expected to strengthen again to a severe tropical cyclone before impacting the eastern Northern Territory from late Saturday.

Hazards:
Queensland:
VERY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 220 km/h are possible near the centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle as it moves west across Cape York Peninsula this morning.
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 160 km/h are likely south of Lockhart River to north of Cape Melville this morning. DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS are likely to persist near the centre of Narelle as it moves across Cape York Peninsula for the remainder of today.
Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are likely from Cape Melville to north of Lockhart River. Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are forecast to extend across Cape York Peninsula, including areas between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw, for the remainder of today.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING with LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL is likely in an area of the Cape York Peninsula bounded by Lockhart River, Cape Flattery, Pormpuraaw, and Mapoon during Friday.
Tides will be higher than normal between Coen and Cape Melville for the remainder of today. LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas. There is a small risk that tides may approach the highest tide of the year during Friday.
Tides in Princess Charlotte Bay are likely to rise significantly above this morning's normal high tide, with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING. Any coastal residents in this area are specifically warned of a possible DANGEROUS STORM TIDE on this morning's high tide.
Once Narelle moves into the Gulf of Carpentaria, tides on the western Peninsula between Weipa and Kowanyama may be higher than normal. LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas.
Northern Territory:
GALES are not expected in coastal areas in the next 24 hours, however gales are expected to develop in coastal areas between Port McArthur and Nhulunbuy from Saturday afternoon as Narelle approaches from the east, and extend inland to areas including Ngukurr on Saturday night or early Sunday morning. VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds are possible near the centre of the cyclone on Saturday night.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible for coastal and adjacent inland areas over the eastern Top End between Port McArthur and south of Nhulunbuy from late Saturday.
Tides will be higher than normal between Nhulunbuy and Port McArthur later Saturday and Sunday. LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas. A potentially DANGEROUS STORM TIDE between Alyangula and Port Roper is possible as the cyclone centre crosses the coast with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING.

Recommended Action:
Queensland:
- People in the path of the very dangerous cyclone should stay calm and remain in a secure shelter - above the expected water level - while the very destructive winds continue.
- Do not venture outside if you find yourself in the eye of the cyclone - very destructive winds from a different direction could resume at any time.
- There may be powerlines down, broken glass and other hazards.
- Follow the instructions and advice of Police, Emergency Services personnel and local authorities.
- Stay informed by checking your local government s Disaster Dashboards for the latest updates.
IF YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER PHONE TRIPLE ZERO (000) IMMEDIATELY.
- Stay informed by checking your local government s Disaster Dashboards for the latest updates.
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Get Ready Queensland website www.getready.qld.gov.au
- For non-life threatening emergency assistance contact State Emergency Services (SES) online via the SES Assistance QLD App, Apple , Android, online www.132500.qld.gov.au, or call 132 500 from anywhere in Queensland.
Northern Territory:
NTES advises:
People between Port MacArthur and Nhulunbuy, and inland to Ngukurr, should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases.
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Secure NT website at http://www.securent.nt.gov.au
- For emergency assistance call the Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

Cyclone advices and DFES Alerts are available by dialling 13 DFES (13 3337)

A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at:
http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone