Cyclone Narelle live: Category 4 storm steamrolls along Pilbara coast, flights cancelled, towns batten down

Experts warn that Perth could break a 91-year weather record as residents across the State prepare for tropical cyclone Narelle.

Residents in WA’s north have begun to bunker down and tourists have been urged to leave as the Category 4 system continues to move towards the Pilbara.

While Perth residents got a small taste of Narelle with damaging winds on Thursday morning, weather experts have warned it’s the heavy rainfall that should concern city dwellers.

The daily March rainfall record for the Perth metropolitan area is 77.6mm, which poured over parts of the city in 1934.

Bureau meteorologist Jessica Lingard says there is a chance that Perth will beat that record this weekend.

Read the full story here.

Severe tropical cyclone Narelle has been declared a category 4 system and is expected to continue to strengthen.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that damaging impacts are possible for the west Pilbara and Gascoyne coasts.

It comes as experts have not ruled out the gigantic storm revving up to a scary category 5 system.

A Karratha local has taken to social media as Narelle bears down.

Tahlya Brown posted video and pictures of the cyclone as it lashed the town, bringing pounding rain and strong winds, with trees bending over.

“It’s definitely stronger than anticipated,” she told The West and PerthNow.

“I’m lucky to be in a secure and safe home but I’m really feeling for those who aren’t in as solid a position.

“There’s a bit of anxiety around as conditions have picked up so quickly.

“It’s very windy here in Karratha, with conditions still building and there’s a noticeable sense of caution.

“I’m glad people are taking it seriously.”

Ms Brown said that she feared for the locals in Exmouth.

“My heart goes out to those in Exmouth - we’re only getting part of it here in Karratha and they’re expected to take a much bigger hit,” she said.

“We haven’t seen a cyclone at this force for a very long time. Hoping everyone stays safe.”

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NT locals face an anxious wait as they monitor flood levels triggered by Narelle’s arrival days ago.

Katherine is at risk of flooding for the second time in a month.

The Katherine River was set to peak just above the major flood level of 17.5m at the town bridge today.

Emergency shelters are ready to take evacuees from inundated homes, while a portable field hospital has also been set up.

Katherine residents have been warned to steer clear of floodwaters that could isolate homes, cause property damage and conceal crocodiles.

Homes and businesses were inundated on March 7 after the river peaked at 19.2m, causing the town’s worst flooding in 28 years.

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Tropical cyclone Narelle is threatening to disrupt industrial operations along WA’s north-west coast after leaving mine closures and evacuations in its wake along the north shore over the past week.

The storm is in the Indian Ocean about 280km north-west of Port Hedland — the world’s largest iron ore export hub — and expected to strengthen further today and tomorow, reaching category 4 intensity in the five-step system for cyclone severity.

Ahead of the cyclone’s passage, the area’s major ports cleared ships from their harbours, according to logistics firm GAC Shipping Australia.

Story here.

Schools have closed, trees tied down and sandbagging stations are available as Karratha bunkers down.

“It would be hard to work outside today, it’s really windy and it’s wet,” local Carrie McDowell said.

“If you lived in the city, no one would mind, but because we don’t have rain very often, it freaks everybody out.”

Tackle World Exmouth manager Barry Taylor said he was preparing for the worst.

“Prepare for the possible worst and, hopefully, we get away with a bit lighter than that,” he said.

Tourists and visitors have been told to leave the 3000-strong holiday town, which was devastated by category five cyclone Vance in 1999.

with AAP

If Narelle continues its trail of destruction into a third Australian jurisdiction, it will be a feat not seen in more than 20 years.

Tropical cyclone Narelle has intensified yet again and is expected to become a powerful category four system later today.

The storm is expected to make landfall late on Friday between Carnarvon and Kalbarri as a category three system, which can produce gusts up to 224km/h.

It would mark the first time a cyclone has hit Queensland, the Northern Territory and WA since Ingrid made three crossings in 2005.

Narelle’s epic journey across northern Australia started when it made landfall in Queensland as a category four system on Friday, crossing the Cape York Peninsula.

It left a trail of power outages and flooding as it hit the NT as a category three by Sunday, forcing hundreds to evacuate.

Narelle’s aftermath is still being felt in the NT with major flood warnings current for the Katherine and Daly rivers.

After initially crossing northern WA as a tropical low on Monday, Narelle has gained strength in the Indian Ocean as it again barrels toward the coast.

It is currently a category three system producing gusts up to 220km/h about 250km from Karratha in the Pilbara region, which is being hit by 100km/h winds.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued new storm advice. It is as follows:

Local damaging winds and heavy rainfall are expected in the Central West over the next several hours.

You need to act now and stay safe with severe thunderstorms forecast which are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.

Locations which may be affected include Geraldton, Mullewa and Northampton.

WHAT TO DO

- Pack away, secure or tie down outdoor furniture, trampolines and other loose items around your home that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds.

- Prepare an emergency kit with a radio that runs off batteries, a torch, spare batteries and a first aid kit.

- Review your plan and make sure everyone in your household knows what to do. If you do not have a plan, make one now on Emergency WA emergency.wa.gov.au/plan or in the Emergency WA app.

- Be prepared to stay indoors when the storm hits.

STORM DETAILS

At 8:16 am Thursday, 26 March 2026, the Bureau of Meteorology advised that slow-moving thunderstorms are developing in a very moist airmass along a trough over the Central West of WA.

These storms may bring strong winds from aloft down to the surface, resulting in damaging wind gusts and localised heavy rainfall.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area.

ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS

Some roads may be closed.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully. Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by visiting the Main Roads Travel Map, calling 138 138 or by contacting your Local Government Authority.

WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE DOING

DFES is monitoring the situation.

For the latest information visit emergency.wa.gov.au or the Emergency WA app.

A slew of weekend events across the metropolitan area have been scrapped as fears surrounding cyclone Narelle’s impact on Perth deepen.

Just some of the events that have been cancelled or changed as the category 3 storm approaches are:

• The City of Kwinana Alcoa Children’s Festival
• Duncraig Adventure Hub
• End of Summer Concert at Ascot Racecourse with Daryl Braithwaite (rescheduled to April 12)
• Station Sounds at Byford Station – METRONET Concert Series
• Perth Classic Car Show (rescheduled to April 19)
• Blast from the Past concert at Artillery Baracks

US singer Jordan Davis has relocated his Ice Cream Factory show to the indoor venue RAC Arena to avoid a last-minute cancellation.

Weekly night and farmers markets have also been cancelled across the Perth area due to the unpredictable weather, with events from Joondalup to Serpentine called off.

WA residents with tickets to events on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday have been encouraged to stay informed and monitor for any changes to plans.