A series of severe weather events have affected large areas of northern and eastern Australia over several months, including Tropical Cyclone Narelle, Tropical Cyclone Maila, widespread flooding in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and a heatwave in southern Queensland. The events resulted in fatalities, property damage, infrastructure disruption, livestock losses, and multiple rescue operations.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle
Formation and Path
Tropical Cyclone Narelle formed south of the Solomon Islands in the Coral Sea on approximately March 16. The system tracked westward across northern Australia, making landfall in three separate Australian jurisdictions: Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), this was the first time in over 20 years a cyclone had made three separate landfalls across these jurisdictions. The cyclone traveled over 5,500 to 6,000 kilometers during its lifespan.
Impact on Queensland
"The cyclone crossed the coast as a 'high-end' Category 4 system with sustained winds of approximately 195 km/h and gusts up to 270 km/h."
Landfall in Far North Queensland: Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall on the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula on Friday, March 20. The system crossed the coast between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, subsequently weakening to Category 3 as it moved west past Weipa. It intensified over the Gulf of Carpentaria on Saturday night, reaching Category 3 status when it entered the Northern Territory before being downgraded to a tropical low.
Damage and Disruptions:
- The Archer River Roadhouse experienced "devastation" with objects seen flying and large trees uprooted.
- Power outages affected over 2,000 homes in Far North Queensland. Ergon Energy restored power to several towns, including parts of Aurukun and Lockhart River, over the weekend; fewer than 300 sites remained without power.
- Telstra reported four mobile sites were down in the region.
- The Peninsula Development Road sustained significant damage, disrupting land travel, with Cooktown airport being the only access point for supplies to isolated communities.
- Lockhart River experienced power outages and debris. The local mayor advocated for funding to build a dedicated disaster shelter.
- Water services in Coen were turned off, and power was also expected to be disconnected.
- No significant injuries were reported.
Cleanup and Recovery: Cleanup operations commenced in affected areas. Remote roadhouse and station operators requested assistance from the Australian Army for clean-up efforts. Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes supported calls for aid. Many landholders were unable to complete damage assessments due to ongoing road washouts.
Rainfall and Flooding:
- Lockhart River recorded wind gusts up to 115 km/h; Weipa recorded gusts up to 109 km/h and 217 mm of rainfall overnight.
- Offshore waves near Weipa exceeded five meters.
- Parts of the region received up to 400 mm of rain.
- A flood watch remained in effect for large areas of north and Far North Queensland.
Impact on the Northern Territory
Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall on the Northern Territory coast on Sunday as a Category 3 system, bringing wind gusts up to 165 km/h and approximately 120 mm of rain to Gove. The system then weakened to a tropical low as it tracked across Katherine towards Western Australia.
"The community of Nauiyu in Daly River remained under water due to major flooding; this flood event was described as the worst on record for the community."
Flood Warnings and Effects:
- Major flood warnings were issued for the Nitmiluk Centre and Katherine Bridge.
- The BOM indicated this wet season could rank among northern Australia's top ten wettest.
- Up to 200 mm of rain was recorded in some areas, including Adelaide River (197 mm), Central Plateau (170 mm), and Howley Creek (166 mm).
- Major flood warnings were issued for the Upper Adelaide River, the Daly River, and the Katherine and Waterhouse Rivers, with flood impacts expected to continue into the following week.
Emergency Preparations and Response:
- Emergency supplies, sandbags, and evacuation shelters were prepared in Katherine.
- A field hospital was established in East Katherine by the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) and the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT), marking the first domestic deployment of AUSMAT to this level.
- Federal approval for Australian Defence Force (ADF) support was granted, with 50 troops arriving in Katherine for clean-up assistance.
- The NT government deployed 14 prisoners and four corrections staff to aid recovery efforts.
- The damage bill was estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
Minimal Impact in East Arnhem Land: NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole reported no serious injuries, with impacts largely limited to localized clean-up and recovery efforts. A Groote Eylandt community broadcaster confirmed the island largely avoided serious damage.
Impact on Western Australia
Re-intensification and Path: Narelle intensified again over the Indian Ocean, reaching severe Category 4 strength before impacting the Western Australia coastline. The cyclone was projected to be the first severe storm in 20 years to make landfall in three of Australia's states and territories.
Landfall and Immediate Impact: Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall near Coral Bay as a Category 3 cyclone on Friday afternoon, bringing substantial rainfall of 350 millimetres and wind gusts up to 250 kilometres per hour.
"Exmouth experienced significant damage: roofs torn from buildings, damage to the marina, and the local airport was reported as 'obliterated' by the shire president."
Damage and Disruptions:
- Over 200 buildings in Exmouth and 14 in Coral Bay sustained damage. In Exmouth, 4 structures were destroyed, 7 had severe damage, 12 had moderate damage, and 8 had slight damage.
- More than 600 properties in Carnarvon lost electricity.
- The main evacuation center in Exmouth sustained roof damage; the town lost power and water services.
- SES teams responded to 96 assistance requests in the Pilbara (mainly Exmouth) and 54 in the Midwest Gascoyne region.
- No injuries from the storm were directly reported.
Agricultural Damage:
- Farmers in Carnarvon experienced immense crop damage; one banana grower reported 50 to 80 percent crop damage.
- 30 pastoral properties incurred extensive damage.
- Bullara Station Stay, a 100,000-hectare property and tourist accommodation near Exmouth, was inundated by floodwaters, leading to livestock loss.
Red Sky Phenomenon: An unusual atmospheric event, characterized by red skies, occurred in Western Australia due to outer winds from Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Crimson, iron-rich dust was lifted from the dry Pilbara landscape by cyclonic winds. The red sky was observed in areas including Shark Bay.
Tourism and Economic Impact:
- The towns of Exmouth, Onslow, and Coral Bay were closed to tourists following the cyclone.
- All Easter holiday bookings in Exmouth were cancelled and refunded.
- The North West Coastal Highway was closed for over a week due to damage before reopening.
Government Response:
- WA Premier Roger Cook announced relief payments ranging from $1000 to $4000 to support affected residents.
- One-off payments of AUD $2,000 for major home damage and up to AUD $4,000 for destroyed homes were announced.
Environmental Impact on Ningaloo Reef
Cyclone Narelle caused heavy surf and high winds to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef near Exmouth. Wildlife carer Brinkley Davies reported numerous dead birds, sea snakes, fish, and dolphins washed ashore. Curtin University coral taxonomist Zoe Richards noted the cyclone struck a vulnerable reef already recovering from a severe coral bleaching event; the intense swell likely scoured away recently settled coral larvae.
Northern Territory Flooding (Context Prior to Narelle)
Katherine Region: Katherine experienced its most significant flooding in 28 years. The government announced a $100 million Flood Recovery Fund for Territorians.
Health System Impact: The Northern Territory's three largest hospitals in Darwin, Palmerston, and Alice Springs declared "code yellow" statuses, indicating facilities were over capacity due to ongoing emergency responses to weather events.
Alice Springs Flash Flooding: Alice Springs experienced flash flooding after almost 100 mm of rain fell over the Todd River within three hours. Rescue operations were conducted for multiple individuals. The Todd River reached 2.96 meters, exceeding the minor flood level.
Queensland Flooding (Context Prior to and Independent of Narelle)
Bundaberg and Burnett River Flood: The Burnett River experienced a major flood, peaking at approximately 7.4 meters. Over 200 properties were affected. The flood was the city's most severe since 2013. Around 300 volunteers joined a "mud army" for cleanup.
Missing and Deceased Backpackers: Two Chinese backpackers, a 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, were found deceased in their vehicle after it was swept off Kilkivan Tansey Road in the Gympie region by floodwaters. These were the first flood-related fatalities in the region.
Agricultural Impact:
- Over 1,000 head of livestock were lost.
- 14 homes in Bundaberg were deemed uninhabitable.
West and North Queensland Flooding (Late 2025/Early 2026)
Widespread Flooding: A separate monsoonal weather system brought heavy rainfall and widespread flooding to north and north-west Queensland, as well as central and outback areas.
Winton and Western Queensland: Winton was isolated by floodwaters after the Western River broke its banks. All roads connecting to Winton were closed.
Livestock Losses and Economic Impact:
- Over 51,000 to 68,700 head of livestock were reported dead or missing across the state, with figures expected to rise significantly.
- The Queensland and Commonwealth governments jointly allocated a $2 million emergency fodder support package for producers.
- Over 919 kilometers of fencing and nearly 1,600 kilometers of private roads were damaged.
Fatalities and Rescues:
- One fatality was confirmed: a man in his 70s was found deceased in a submerged vehicle in Normanton.
- Multiple rescues were conducted, including individuals stranded on rooftops in Einasleigh.
Clermont Flood: Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji delivered the heaviest rainfall in over a century to Clermont. Approximately 70 to 71 homes were impacted by rising floodwaters.
Tropical Cyclone Maila
Formation and Peak Intensity
Tropical Cyclone Maila formed in the Solomon Sea, becoming the 11th named tropical cyclone in the Australian region for the 2025-26 season. It was the first cyclone named by TCWC Port Moresby since Cyclone Guba in 2007.
Maila reached Category 5 strength at its peak, with a recorded minimum pressure of 924 hPa. Wind speeds at its center reached approximately 200 km/h, with gusts up to 260-295 km/h.
"The cyclone reached maximum strength on Friday morning before beginning to weaken."
Impact on Pacific Islands
Before reaching Australia, Maila caused widespread damage across the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Bougainville:
- Buildings in the Solomon Islands' Western Province were destroyed, including the health clinic on Simbo Island losing its roof.
- Two deaths were reported in Papua New Guinea.
- The Solomon Islands government announced a $2 million assistance package for affected residents.
Forecast for Australia
As of Saturday, Maila was downgraded to a Category 1 or Category 2 system. The BOM stated that Maila was likely to weaken below tropical cyclone intensity before reaching the Australian coast, though some models still indicated it could be a Category 2 system upon landfall. BOM senior forecaster Shane Kennedy stated any landfall would likely be north of Cooktown in Far North Queensland. Moderate to heavy rainfall was expected across northern Queensland from Tuesday.
Regional Weather Conditions and Heatwave
In contrast to the north, western and southern Queensland were enduring an intense heatwave:
- St George set a preliminary April temperature record of 36.9 degrees Celsius.
- Thargomindah recorded 46.6C, marking the hottest day in 12 years for parts of South West Queensland.
- Overnight minimums remained above 30 degrees Celsius in some south-western areas.
A cool change was expected to move through the state, with temperatures potentially dropping 7 degrees below average in western areas.
Additional Weather Monitoring
Forecasters were monitoring the potential for new tropical cyclone development off the north Queensland coast, with a low to moderate probability of cyclone formation. The season has been described as having above-average cyclone activity.