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Update 11: Cyclone Narelle

Tropical Cyclone emergency warning

3:45am Sunday 22 March 2026

A cyclone emergency warning is now in place for parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Read alerts and warnings for the latest updates.

Prepare to take shelter

If you are in the cyclone path, prepare to take shelter.

  • It is too dangerous to travel, reconsider your plans.
  • People between Birany Birany to north of Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt should complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place.
  • People further west including Ramingining, Bulman, and Ngukurr, should take precautions and listen to the next advice.
  • For emergency service in floods, storms or cyclones call 132 500.
  • In a life threatening situation call 000.

Prepare

If you are outside but near the cyclone path, prepare.

Emergency shelters now open - what you need to know before you go

You can go to a shelter if you feel unsafe in your home.

These public emergency shelters are now open or opening soon.

East Arnhem Region

  • Angurugu School inc. Trade Training Centre
  • Milyakburra Cyclone Shelter, Bickerton Island
  • Gove District Hospital Cyclone Shelter, Nhulunbuy
  • Umbakumba School inc. Trade Training Centre
  • Urapunga School Emergency Shelter

Big Rivers Region

  • Bulman School
  • Guluman Child and Family Centre, Ngukurr
  • Katherine High School open from 8m Sunday, 22 March 2026

You need to take your emergency kit and the following items

  • blankets and pillows
  • food that doesn’t need cooking
  • medication and baby needs
  • water.

What you can’t take

  • pets – leave at home with food and water – do not tie them up, and do not leave them inside if your home might flood
  • cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and weapons
  • cooking equipment.

Recorded messages

Listen to the alerts in local languages below:

English

Yolngu-matha

Anindilyakwa

Kriol

Boil water alert

A boil water alert is issued for Umbakumba, Angurugu, Milyakburra, Yirrkala and Numbulwar.
Use cooled boiled water or bottled water for:

  • drinking
  • preparing food
  • preparing baby formula
  • brushing teeth.

The boiled water alert will be lifted after testing and the Department of Health advises the water is safe to drink.

Evacuation of Numbulwar

Around 500 residents of Numbulwar will be evacuated by air to Darwin. An Evacuation Staging Centre has been established at the Nightcliff High School gymnasium to support evacuations. Temporary fencing will be erected to separate the school from the evacuation area.

Nightcliff High School remains open. Families are being advised of any changes to school operations.

Groote Eylandt

There is no decision to evacuate the island. The community is not being evacuated, as there are enough shelters and strong houses to shelter in place.

You are advised:

  • Public shelters in Alyungula, Anurugu and Umbakumba are open.
  • GEMCO are self-evacuating as per their internal emergency plans.
  • Decide now where you will take shelter if you have to. There will be an announcement if public shelters are opened. Pets cannot be taken to public shelters.
  • Prepare your emergency kits – make sure you have everything you need for three days, including food, water and a battery-operated radio.
  • Prepare your emergency plan now – including where you, your family and pets will shelter.

Flood risk

Watch and Act

Flood Watch and Act alerts are now in place for Adelaide, Katherine and Waterhouse rivers.

Major flooding is now a possibility.

You are advised to:

  • prepare your emergency kits and sandbags, which are available at the NTES Depot in Chandon Street from 8am to 4pm today
  • plan where you’ll stay if you evacuate and leave early
  • stay informed of alerts and warnings on the Bureau of Meteorology app, SecureNT and listen to your local radio station.

Advice

A Flood Advice is now in place for parts of the Top End. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.

Prepare:

  • Prepare your household emergency plan and kit now.
  • Stay informed by following SecureNT on Facebook or listen to ABC Local Radio.
  • Don't drive, walk, swim or play in floodwater because it is dangerous.
  • Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways.

Check the Road Report NT website for any closures and please drive to conditions.

Media releases

Page last updated 22 March 2026

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