Tropical Cyclone Narelle is expected to cross the coast of Far North Queensland within hours as a category 4 system, bringing “very destructive” wind gusts of up to 270km/h.
Narelle is forecast to make landfall over the Cape York Peninsula on Friday morning, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest advice.
“Narelle will then continue to move west across The Gulf of Carpentaria, and expected to strengthen again to a severe tropical cyclone before impacting the eastern Northern Territory from late Saturday,” it said in an update on Friday morning.
“Very destructive wind gusts in excess of 250km/h are possible near the centre of (the cyclone) as it crosses the Cape York Peninsula on Friday morning.”
Sustained winds near the centre of the cyclone are expected to reach 195 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 270 kilometres per hour.
Narelle was previously forecast to make landfall as a category 5 system, but weakened slightly overnight.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has warned the damage will be “widespread”, with authorities saying being prepared was crucial to avoiding serious or even fatal incidents.
More to come.
