Emergency Warning Issued as Cyclone Narelle Approaches Northern Territory
Very destructive winds with gusts up to 195km/h are forecast, accompanied by major flooding expected in Katherine by Monday.
An emergency warning has been issued, with thousands preparing for the cyclone’s landfall in the Northern Territory. Winds reaching up to 195km/h are anticipated.
The highest-level warning was issued around midday on Saturday, covering the area from Nhulunbuy to Port MacArthur, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, and Gapuwiyak, according to NT Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Wharton.
Residents have been advised that travel is too dangerous during the storm.
“If you’re sheltering at home, move to the smallest, strongest, most protected room in your house such as a bathroom or a toilet,”
Wharton said.
“Rooms with few or smaller windows are better, though better than those with larger windows.”
“We implore you, wherever you are in the impact of this cyclone, please do not venture outside into the storm. It’s dangerous.”
Cyclone Narelle Expected to Hit NT at 3am
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has warned over 10,000 residents from Nhulunbuy to Port McArthur, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, and Gapuwiyak, that Narelle will strengthen as it nears.
Narelle was downgraded from category 4 to category 2 as it moved through the Gulf of Carpentaria after making landfall across Cape York on Friday, but it was forecast to reach the eastern Top End late Saturday as a category 3 cyclone.
As of 12:30pm NT time, BoM maintained its forecast for Narelle to make landfall around 3am. The cyclone was moving westward in the Gulf of Carpentaria at approximately 20km/h before crossing the eastern Top End.
Very destructive winds gusting up to 195km/h were expected in some areas into Sunday, with heavy rainfall potentially causing flash flooding. Rainfall totals are predicted between 150mm and 200mm daily as the system passes, with up to 300mm possible.
Rainfall is expected to peak on Sunday and Monday, with major flooding potential for the Katherine River, Daly River, Waterhouse, and Adelaide River catchments.
Evacuations Underway to Darwin
On the Gulf of Carpentaria coast, the Australian Defence Force has evacuated nearly 150 people from the community of Numbulwar, with hundreds more scheduled to be flown out as Narelle approaches.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Kirsty McBain stated on Saturday morning that Defence had embedded an air liaison officer in the emergency operating centre.
She also noted that the National Critical Care and Trauma Centre has deployed a team to Katherine to provide health assessments and clinical resources, including a field hospital if needed.
In Darwin, approximately 500 people from Numbulwar have taken shelter in Nightcliff High School’s gymnasium ahead of the cyclone’s impact on their community.
The Australian government disaster recovery payment has been activated for areas including Chinchilla in Western Downs, Bundaberg central, east, north, and south. In the Northern Territory, this will extend to Daly River and Victoria Daly, and Lansdowne in Roper Gulf.
Payments will be available from 2pm on Tuesday, with residents advised to check the Services Australia website.
“Additional assessments will be made for impacted areas by Tropical Cyclone Narelle as soon as possible,”
McBain said.
Katherine Preparing for Flooding by Monday
In Katherine, 4,000 sandbags have been delivered to the community, with 110 tonnes of sand used in preparation for rising rivers and potential flash flooding.
“We are expecting moderate to major flood levels in Katherine come Monday,”
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said.
“The community is obviously still reeling over last week’s flood and are now in full-blown preparation mode, getting themselves and their families and their businesses ready for what might come.
“With Numbulwar, everyone has been evacuated, which is terrific news.”
Katherine Mayor Joanna Holden told AAP that the town’s population of 10,000 is taking the forecast seriously and preparations are underway, with sandbagging crews active since Thursday.
Many properties previously flooded had been cleaned out, but other clean-up efforts were paused in case of further flooding.
The mayor expressed concern about volunteer fatigue after two weeks of assisting with recovery from earlier flooding in the month.
“To have to go back again and potentially have to clean out the same places and see the same devastation, that takes its toll,”
she said.
Matthew Ryan, chair of the Northern Land Council in the NT, raised concerns about the quality of care in evacuation centres.
“There’s reports of the food, the bedding, it’s not good enough,”
he told the ABC.
“There’s some people [who] have been sleeping without mattresses which is appalling… We should have been better prepared now rather than being reactive. Every time they start from scratch.”
Queensland Clean-up Continues; ‘Today is a Blessing’
Clean-up efforts in far north Queensland began on Saturday. Authorities reported no rescues or casualties, with damage primarily structural or from fallen trees.
BoM senior meteorologist Angus Hines noted key concerns for residents in the Cape York Peninsula, particularly regarding rivers still running high and spilling over banks and roads.
“This is likely isolating communities in the far north of Queensland and making it difficult to get out and assess the damage, reach remote locations and top up supplies,”
he said.
Approximately 1,100 people were without power across Cape York as of Saturday morning.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, speaking at a press conference in Cooktown, reported waves exceeding 5 meters off the coast of Weipa but noted that rain had eased by Saturday morning.
“Today is a blessing and we certainly welcome the fact that the prolonged rain hasn’t continued,”
he said.
Crisafulli said Narelle “walked a tightrope” between Coen and Lockhart River before moving south of Aurukun and exiting on the western side of Cape York.
“The fact that it went right between two of the larger populated centres was a real blessing.”
He added that aside from downed trees, some power and telecommunications issues remained, along with the prospect of higher tides and waves.
Authorities are seeking to identify a vessel located in Princess Charlotte Bay.
Three emergency helicopters were scheduled to conduct damage assessments across 16 communities, focusing on roads, Crisafulli said.
A decision regarding reopening schools in the area will be made by 5pm AEST on Sunday.
The Queensland government is providing 10 storm pods to assist the Northern Territory in recovery efforts. These pods contain equipment to aid recovery and were en route from Townsville on Saturday.
Regarding reports of an overcrowded evacuation centre in Coen, Crisafulli advised residents to prepare and stay home if possible but acknowledged that government preparations could improve.
Narelle is expected to track over the Northern Kimberley and move offshore to the Indian Ocean from Tuesday.
