Cyclone Narelle crosses Queensland coast as Premier David Crisafulli warns residents to stay indoors
With sustained winds of 200km/h and gusts of 250km/h, cyclone Narelle has hit, with residents in Far North Queensland urged to take shelter immediately.
Residents across Far North Queensland have been told to take immediate shelter as severe tropical cyclone Narelle makes landfall on Cape York Peninsula, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain.
The system, which intensified to a category five cyclone in the Coral Sea on Thursday, was downgraded early Friday to a high-end category four. Authorities say the change does not reduce the danger.
Cyclone Narelle is expected to cross the coast between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, with landfall forecast between 7am and 10am AEST near Coen, north of Cairns.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The Bureau of Meteorology said the fast-moving system is producing sustained winds near 200km/h, with gusts above 250km/h capable of damaging buildings, downing trees and cutting power.
“Take shelter now in the strongest part of the building you are in,” emergency alerts issued from 4am warned residents in communities including Lockhart River, Coen, Port Stewart, Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal.
Meteorologist Baden Gilbert said the downgrade did not lessen the threat.
“There’s still going to be a very destructive core as this system crosses the coast to the east of Coen,” he said.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the system had begun crossing the state’s coastline, warning residents to remain indoors.
“The best place right now is for you to remain exactly where you are,” he said.
He cautioned against leaving homes even if conditions appear to ease, with the eye of the cyclone expected to pass over parts of the region, including Coen.
“There is the prospect that the eye of the system might pass over the top of the town of Coen,” he said.
“If this occurs, people will feel a great intensity and then a lag.
“It’s really important people don’t leave their homes as this occurs because the back end of that system will be very, very intense as it goes through.”
Those in the path have been told to “stay indoors” in the safest, strongest part of the building.
Emergency crews have been deployed across the region, with evacuations underway, schools closed, and authorities conducting door-to-door checks.
The cyclone is forecast to track west across Cape York into the Gulf of Carpentaria later on Friday before moving towards the Northern Territory, where further impacts are expected over the weekend.
Heavy rainfall is likely to persist beyond landfall, raising the risk of riverine and flash flooding, with warnings that some conditions could become life-threatening.
Storm-force winds are expected across the Gulf, with more severe conditions possible in the south-east and north-east of the region. Strong winds may also extend towards the Torres Strait and as far south as the Cairns coast.
A cyclone warning remains in place across Cape York Peninsula, while a watch zone extends into parts of the Northern Territory, including Nhulunbuy, Borroloola and Numbulwar.
Once the system moves into the Gulf, higher-than-normal tides and large waves may cause minor flooding in low-lying coastal areas.
The Bureau said cyclone Narelle could strengthen again as it approaches the Northern Territory, prolonging the impact across northern Australia.
