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Update 7: Cyclone Narelle

Tropical Cyclone Emergency Warning

11:15am Saturday 21 March 2026

Tropical Cyclone Narelle is moving towards the Territory coast.

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 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.

Recorded messages

Listen to the alerts in local languages below:

English

Yolngu-matha

Anindilyakwa

Kriol

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

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.

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

Media releases

Page last updated 21 March 2026

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