The exmouth cyclone Narelle re‑intensified to a severe Category 4 off Western Australia overnight and is tracking parallel to the coast near Exmouth. It is on course to cross the coast late on Friday between Carnarvon and Kalbarri, and authorities warn Coral Bay, Denham and the Shark Bay area face impacts. Emergency services and meteorologists say residents should prepare now for high winds and heavy rainfall.
Exmouth Cyclone: Track and immediate threats
National agencies list Narelle as a Category 4 system off the coast near Exmouth with maximum winds of up to 250km/h and a projected landfall as a degraded Category 3 between Carnarvon and Kalbarri. The exmouth cyclone was moving parallel to the shoreline overnight and is expected to affect Coral Bay and Denham before crossing in the Shark Bay area. Perth has already seen damaging winds on Thursday morning and experts warn that heavy rainfall is the greater danger for the metropolitan area.
A flood warning remains in place for Perth and for parts of the Pilbara and Gascoyne regions; officials caution that river and creek levels may rise and that localised and prolonged overland flooding is possible. Meteorologists forecast average falls across Perth of 20mm to 50mm on the next two days with some patches possibly approaching 80mm, raising the chance that the city could challenge a long‑standing March daily rainfall record.
Immediate reactions from officials and experts
Steve Duncan, Kalbarri State Emergency Service deputy, said: “The majority of the town was here for (Cyclone Seroja in 2021). That’s one benefit of past events, people are more aware. ” He added: “People are still quite jumpy. It was quite a traumatic event for the town, so people are very wary on any potential cyclone impact in the area, which is quite understandable. ” Seroja flattened the coastal town after crossing as a Category 3 system, a reference emergency managers use when urging caution.
Jessica Lingard, Bureau meteorologist, warned city residents to focus on rainfall rather than wind: “Wind is not the biggest risk this weekend for Perth – it’s the significant rainfall after a long dry summer. There are some rainfalls in localised patches of the Perth area that could absolutely beat that 1934 record. ” She advised: “Prepare for windy conditions, secure all furniture or loose items, and make sure you are keeping up to date on the storm. Ensure you look at gutters and clean debris before the rain hits. “
Victoria’s emergency services logged widespread impacts from a severe weather front moving through the southeast: State Emergency Service units handled more than 190 requests for assistance including dozens for fallen trees and building damage, while power outages affected several thousand customers across the state.
Background and what’s next
The exmouth cyclone has re‑intensified offshore and the busiest coastal communities from the Pilbara to the Gascoyne are preparing for impact. Emergency services have urged tourists to leave vulnerable coastal areas and for residents to secure property and heed local warnings. With heavy rain expected to produce river rises and flash flooding in some catchments, travel and infrastructure disruptions are likely as the system moves inland.
Forecasters will continue to refine the exmouth cyclone’s inland intensity and rainfall footprint, and authorities say they will issue further warnings if conditions change. Residents in the projected path should follow official guidance from emergency services and the Bureau of Meteorology and expect updates as Narelle approaches.
