Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Advice Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre Media: Transmitters serving the area between Nhulunbuy to north of Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt, are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning. TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 33 Issued at 01:18 AM CST on Sunday 22 March 2026 Headline: Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is impacting the eastern Top End between Nhulunbuy and Numbulwar. To move west across the Northern Territory on Sunday. Areas Affected: Warning zone: Milingimbi to Nathan River, including Nhulunbuy, Galiwin'ku, Numbulwar, Alyangula, Gapuwiyak, Bulman, and Ngukurr. Watch zone: King George River Mouth to WA/NT Border. Cancelled zone: None. Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle 34U at 12:30 am ACST: Intensity: Category 3, sustained winds near the centre of 130 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 185 kilometres per hour. Location: within 30 kilometres of 13.3 degrees South 136.4 degrees East, estimated to be 130 kilometres south southwest of Nhulunbuy and 60 kilometres north of Alyangula. Movement: west southwest at 18 kilometres per hour. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is impacting coastal areas of the eastern Top End with a coastal crossing early Sunday morning near Cape Shield to the northwest of Groote Eylandt. Narelle will then track across the Top End on Sunday and Monday as a tropical low and a Severe Weather Warning is current for heavy, locally intense rainfall and damaging winds. During Monday, Narelle is expected to move over the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and gales are forecast to redevelop to the north of the centre. There is a Moderate chance that Narelle redevelops into a tropical cyclone while in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf near the NT/WA Border. Hazards: VERY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 185 km/h are forecast to develop in coastal areas between about Birany Birany and Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt, overnight into Sunday as Narelle makes landfall. DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 160 km/h are expected between Nhulunbuy and Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt overnight into Sunday. GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are developing in coastal and adjacent inland areas between Cape Wessel and Nathan River, including Nhulunbuy and Galiwin'ku, and are likely to continue overnight into Sunday. These GALES may extend west to Milingimbi, Ramingining, Bulman, and Ngukurr during Sunday morning. HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is developing about coastal and adjacent inland areas over the eastern Top End between Milingimbi and Nathan River, and is forecast to extend further inland during Sunday. LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL leading to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is likely over the eastern Top End between Birany Birany and Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt, extending inland towards Bulman later on Sunday. Tides will be higher than normal between Milingimbi and Nathan River this morning. LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas. A DANGEROUS STORM TIDE between Birany Birany and Port Roper, including Groote Eylandt, is possible as the cyclone centre crosses the coast with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING. A separate coastal hazard warning is current for abnormally high tides south of Port Roper, with elevated water levels likely to persist across the Gulf of Carpentaria after the passage of Narelle. Western Australia: GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 90 km/h are possible between King George River Mouth and the WA/NT border during Monday. HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible for the north Kimberley during Monday. Recommended Action: NTES advises: People between Nhulunbuy and Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt (Alyangula) and Gapuwiyak, should remain inside until the cyclone has passed and listen to the next advice at 4.30 am. - 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 - Heed the advice and follow the instructions of Emergency Services personnel and local authorities. People in remaining areas between Milingimbi and Nathan River, including Numbulwar, Bulman, and Ngukurr, should take precautions and listen to the next advice at 4:30 am. - Outside property, including boats, playground equipment, chairs and tables should be secured. - For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Secure NT website at https://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). DFES advises: Ensure you know what to do in a cyclone. For the latest DFES community alerts and warnings visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or download the Emergency WA app. 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