9h agoWed 18 Mar 2026 at 7:58pmStay up to date with the latest emergency warnings
You can head to the ABC Emergency website for all updates, including a map of all warnings.
ABC Emergency will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio, which you can stream on the ABC Listen App.
Here are the radio frequencies for local stations:
- Cairns and surrounds: 801 AM and 106.7 FM
- Cairns North: 95.5 FM
- Coen: 105.9 FM
- Cooktown: 105.7 FM
- Lakeland: 106.1 FM
- Laura: 106.1 FM
- Mossman and surrounds (including Daintree, Port Douglas): 639 AM
- Weipa: 1044 AM
ABC Far North is also available on Channel 211 through the VAST satellite service.
You can also keep across the latest warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology on its website.
6m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 5:01am
Heavy, intense rainfall for Qld, renewed flooding in NT
The Bureau of Meteorology is giving more updates about what’s going to happen once Narelle crosses the coast.
It says it will bring heavy, intense rainfall with it, along with a flash flooding risk.
Once it moves into the Northern Territory, where catchments, including the Daley River, are already very wet, renewed river rises are also expected, which could prolong flooding in those regions.
12m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:55am
No additional fuel being sent to affected areas
Kristy McBain is being asked about whether any additional fuel will be sent to either Queensland or the Northern Territory to help with recovery efforts, as well as powering generators.
“We need to wait to see what Tropical Cyclone Narelle’s damage is across parts of the Tropical North and the Northern Territory,” she says.
Ms McBain says NEMA is involved in discussions about fuel reserves, and access to fuel is always considered in the aftermath of a disaster.
13m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:55am
Katarina Carroll reiterating warnings
Katarina Carroll says Narelle is “quite a severe system” and the warnings bear repeating.
“I know that many people in that world are experienced with cyclones, but this certainly is a very different and very intense system.”
She urges Queenslanders to “look after each other” and listen to authorities.
15m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:52am
NEMA preparing to coordinate response
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) deputy coordinator-general Katarina Carroll says the agency is in “close contact” with Queensland and Northern Territory governments.
“Today we convened two national coordination mechanism meetings for severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle,” she says.
She says the goal was to ensure government agencies were prepared to assist each other.
“NEMA has embedded liaison officers and planning officers in the Northern Territory and liaison officers in Queensland to provide support not only for the cyclone but also for the recent flooding events in Queensland as well as the Northern Territory.”
17m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:51am
No requests for ADF assistance in Queensland
Kristy McBain is asked whether the ADF is likely to be sent to Queensland.
She says there haven’t been any requests for assistance yet.
“We would action requests as they come in,” she tells reporters.
Ms McBain says there’s already an ADF liaison officer embedded in Queensland.
22m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:45am
ADF looking at evacuation options in NT
Kristy McBain says there have already been two emergency meetings ahead of Cyclone Narelle’s arrival.
She’s urging people in Queensland and the Northern Territory to prepare now and enact their emergency plans.
“This is a very intense system … people should move early if they intend to relocate,” she says.
Ms McBain says the federal government has received a request to help with evacuations in the Northern Territory, and the Australian Defence Force is now working through its options.
“Defence is working really quickly through those assessments,” she says.
26m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:41am
Federal government ready to support: McBain
The federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain is in Canberra providing an update on cyclone preparations.
She says the government stands ready to support as and when that’s required.
We’ll bring you live updates from that press conference.
32m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:35am
Emergency services out and about
We’ve heard from the government that emergency services, including the police and the SES, have had their ranks bolstered in the north of the state.
Police have ben door-knocking locals. (Supplied: Queensland Police Service)
Queensland Police says its officers are out and about today door-knocking and talking to locals to make sure people are prepared.
Police say they’re getting prepared ahead. (Supplied: Queensland Police Service)
It says they’re also talking to boat owners in the northern Cape areas to ensure vessels are moored and sheltered.
Police have been speaking to locals and boat owners. (Supplied: Queensland Police Service)
And, they’re again issuing motorists with a warning not to drive unless absolutely necessary, and to keep out of floodwaters.
44m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:24amCyclone Watch officially issued for the NT
The Bureau of Meteorology has formally issued a Cyclone Watch for eastern parts of the Northern Territory’s Top End.
Narelle is expected to cross the NT coast as a category three system on Saturday, with conditions on Groote Eylandt, located in the Gulf of Carpentaria, expected to deteriorate during the day.
The watch includes communities in the eastern Top End including Groote Eylandt, south of Nhulunbuy, around to Port McArthur, including Borroloola, but not Nhulunbuy itself.
A flood watch has also been issued for large parts of the Top End, with heavy rainfall expected to see local creek and river rises, including renewed rises in areas that have already experienced flooding.
55m agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:12am
Maps show rapid pace of Narelle
These maps show the rapid pace at which Narelle is expected to travel this afternoon and into tomorrow.
ABC meteorologist Thomas Saunders says gale force winds are expected about six hours prior to the arrival of the eye, and will last about 15 hours. Destructive winds are expected to last about six hours.
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As for the rain, he says, because Narelle is a fast-moving system, we’re looking at about 12 to 15 hours of torrential falls. That’s not long enough to cause the more severe flooding seen with recent cyclones like Jasper and Alfred.
Loading…1h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 4:02amCyclone Narelle moving quickly
Here’s an update on Cyclone Narelle’s movements, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The system is currently 450km east of Cooktown and is moving quickly about 26km/h.
Cyclone Narelle’s trackmap issued at 1:50pm. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)
The BOM says Cyclone Narelle could potentially start to cross the coast even earlier than initially predicted tomorrow morning, about 7am.
Flood warnings are current for parts of the Cape York Peninsula and parts of the North Tropical Coast.
1h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 3:58am
‘Nervous’ residents wait for Narelle without a shelter
Towns have been evacuated, schools shut, and flights cancelled across the Cape York Peninsula as residents prepare for Cyclone Narelle.
The 200 residents of Coen, 550 kilometres north of Cairns, have been buying food and emergency supplies from the local store.
Residents in the Northern Cape region have been told to store water as the Coen water treatment plant will be shut down.
Several schools across the region have closed for Thursday and Friday, and airline Hinterland Aviation has cancelled flights to Coen and Lockhart River on Friday.
Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes said community members were being encouraged to stay with relatives or attend the local wellbeing centre, as Coen does not have a cyclone shelter.
Southern Kaanju, Ayapathu, Umpila and Lama Lama woman and Coen community leader Donna Creek says she’s “nervous” and “worried”.
“Everybody is out and about, fuelling up their cars … fuelling up their generators, stocking up on all their emergency goods.”
Coen Regional Aboriginal Corporation has provided locals with emergency packs that included torches, food and water ahead of the cyclone.
Though the town is in a cyclone-prone region, Ms Creek says she is worried older homes may not withstand the gusts, which could be the most severe conditions experienced at Coen in many years.
1h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 3:49am
Cape York patients wait out cyclone in Cooktown
Back to Queensland now, and kidney dialysis patients and their carers from the Cape York communities of Wujal Wujal and Hope Vale are staying in Cooktown to ensure continued access to treatment until Cyclone Narelle passes.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service chief executive Rex O’Rourke said all health facilities in the region had emergency generators and “adequate stocks of fuel” in preparation for the cyclone.
“We also have emergency communication channels in place using satellite phones if needed,” Mr O’Rourke said in a statement.
(Supplied)
He said all Cape York health facilities had “adequate staffing” for “anticipated needs”.
“We thank the Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Police Service and State Emergency Service for the additional people and vehicles they have located across the region,” Mr O’Rourke said.
He said the health service “maintained lists of vulnerable patients”, such as those requiring home oxygen supplies and special medications.
“These lists have been reviewed and individualised care plans implemented by local teams,” Mr O’Rourke said.
He said the service had post-cyclone recovery plans in place to move in relieving health workers and repair and maintenance teams quickly throughout the region to affected facilities, as needed.
1h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 3:40am
VIDEO: ABC reports from blustery Port Douglas as Cyclone Narelle churns off the coastLoading…
Loading…ABC NEWS reporter Chloe Chomicki is in Port Douglas, where winds are already picking up from Cyclone Narelle despite being south of the warning zone.
1h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 3:37am
That’s where we’ll leave this press conference
To recap, Narelle is expected to reach the Northern Territory once it travels across Queensland.
Here’s what we’ve heard from the Bureau of Meteorology.
- it’s expected to cross the NT coast on Saturday afternoon as a severe category three system;
- once it makes landfall, it will rapidly weaken;
- Katherine and other flood-impacted areas should expect daily rainfall totals of 150mm to 200mm rain;
- Darwin will also experience rain and wind;
- the BOM says the system is different to last week’s because it’s moving so quickly.
1h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 3:30am
Longer-term evacuations in NT
Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says some people will need to stay in evacuation centres for longer than they’d initially thought.
“We have water lapping people’s roofs for a substantial period of time … so we need to make sure we’re providing that support and comfort where people can have a home away from home.”
She says it’s too early to say how much the damage bill from all of the weather events in the territory will total. The government has already put $100 million towards a recovery fund, she says.
1h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 3:21am
Police resources bolstered in NT amid concerns with security
Northern Territory Police Acting Commissioner Travis Wurst says policing resources are being bolstered in communities that are expected to be impacted.
He says police are also helping with evacuations and with evacuees.
“We’re aware there have been some concerns with security and security guards,” he says.
“[They’re] managing a really difficult environment.”
He says security guards have to be monitoring people as they arrive and depart evacuation centres because the NT government has the responsibility for their safety.
1h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 3:16am
Cyclone to cross NT coast as a category three, BOM expects
BOM meteorologist Shenagh Gamble says Narelle is expected to impact Groote Eylandt and eastern Top End communities late Saturday and into Sunday.
She says this will mean an increased risk of storm tides, damaging winds, and could lead to flash flooding due to renewed river rises in parts of the territory which had already experienced recent wet weather.
“People in the Top End should begin to prepare now,” she explains.
Ms Gamble says the system will weaken once it crosses the coast, and will cross the NT coast on Saturday as a category three system.
1h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 3:08amEvacuations underway in the NT
Hundreds of residents from communities, including Numbulwar, are being evacuated ahead of the cyclone’s arrival, with the Australian Defence Force being brought in to assist.
My colleagues in the NT have more information on the situation there at the link below.