Severe Weather Events Affect Australia: Cyclones, Widespread Flooding, and Heatwaves Impact Multiple States and Territories

A series of severe weather events, including Tropical Cyclone Narelle, widespread flooding, and extreme heat, impacted multiple states and territories across Australia from late 2025 into early 2026. These events resulted in fatalities, extensive infrastructure damage, agricultural losses, and numerous rescue operations, leading to significant disruption and ongoing recovery efforts. A new tropical cyclone, Maila, later developed in the Solomon Sea, posing a potential threat to northern Australia.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle: A Multi-State Event

Tropical Cyclone Narelle traversed northern and western Australia during March 2026, marking an extended path across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. Its journey involved multiple intensifications and landfalls, making it a rare event. It was projected to be the first storm system in over 20 years to make landfall in three of Australia's states and territories since Tropical Cyclone Ingrid in 2005.

Formation and Initial Impact (Queensland)
Narelle formed south of the Solomon Islands in the Coral Sea and rapidly intensified, reaching Category 5 status with sustained winds of 205 km/h and gusts up to 285 km/h. Elevated sea surface temperatures contributed to its rapid intensification. It subsequently made landfall on Queensland's Cape York Peninsula as a high-end Category 4 system around 7:00 AM, bringing sustained winds near 200 km/h and gusts up to 270 km/h.

• Affected Areas: Lockhart River, Coen, Aurukun, and the Archer River Roadhouse experienced significant tree falls, power outages, and some structural damage. Residents sought shelter in various locations, including cyclone-proof homes, community centers, and even shipping containers or World War II-era bunkers.
• Rainfall: Over 400mm of rain was recorded in parts of the region, leading to swollen creeks and rivers. Wenlock River, Wujal Wujal, and Coen received nearly 150mm within 24 hours.
• Storm Surge: Waves exceeding 4 meters were observed in Cairns, and a dangerous storm tide was anticipated in Princess Charlotte Bay.
• Community Response: Evacuations of vulnerable individuals and resorts (e.g., Lizard Island, Port Stewart) occurred. Medical supplies were pre-positioned in remote areas.
• Infrastructure Damage: The Peninsula Development Road sustained significant damage, disrupting land travel. Cooktown airport became a critical access point for supplies to isolated communities. Hundreds of homes lost power, and mobile sites were down, with restoration efforts underway.
• Requests for Aid: Remote roadhouse and station operators in Far North Queensland requested assistance from the Australian Army for extensive clean-up efforts due to widespread fallen trees and debris.

Passage Through the Northern Territory
After crossing eastern Cape York, Narelle weakened to a Category 2 system and re-emerged over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria, intensifying to Category 3 before making landfall on the eastern Top End coast of the Northern Territory.

• Landfall and Winds: Landfall occurred between Birany Birany and Numbulwar around 1 AM, with destructive winds up to 185 km/h. Wind gusts up to 160 km/h were experienced in Groote Eylandt and Gove.
• Rainfall and Flooding: The system brought heavy rainfall, with up to 200mm in some areas, including Adelaide River (197mm). Major flood warnings were issued for the Upper Adelaide, Daly, Katherine, and Waterhouse Rivers. The Katherine River reached its second-worst flood on record.
• Community Impact: Nauiyu in Daly River experienced record major flooding, leading to the evacuation of all residents to Darwin. A field hospital was established in East Katherine by the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) and the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT).

  The Katherine River reached its second-worst flood on record, while Nauiyu in Daly River saw record major flooding, necessitating community-wide evacuations.

• Government Response: The NT government announced a $100 million Flood Recovery Fund for infrastructure rebuilding and secured Australian Defence Force (ADF) support for cleanup in Katherine. Personal Hardship Payments were made available to affected individuals.

Re-intensification and Western Australian Impact
Narelle continued its westward path as a tropical low across the Kimberley region of Western Australia, re-intensifying over the Indian Ocean. It became a severe Category 3, then Category 4 system, and was forecast to reach Category 5. The cyclone subsequently tracked south along the Pilbara coast, impacting tourism towns and agricultural areas.

• Intensity and Warnings: Narelle intensified to a Category 4 system with wind gusts of 230 km/h, potentially reaching 260 km/h in areas west of Onslow. It was projected to make landfall as a severe Category 3 system near Denham in Shark Bay.
• Red Sky Phenomenon: An unusual atmospheric event, characterized by red skies, was observed in Western Australia ahead of the cyclone. This was attributed to strong winds lifting iron-rich red dust from the dry Pilbara landscape, combined with thick cloud cover and a specific wind direction.
• Pilbara Region: Pilbara Ports initiated the clearing of berths, affecting daily cargo movements. Damaging wind gusts up to 100 km/h were anticipated between Bidyadanga and De Grey, extending to Port Hedland and Karratha.
• Exmouth and Ningaloo Coast: Exmouth experienced wind gusts up to 250 km/h. The town sustained significant damage, including torn roofs, severe damage to the marina and airport (described as "obliterated"), and disruptions to power and water services. The World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef sustained heavy surf and high winds, impacting marine life (dead birds, sea snakes, fish) and causing setbacks to its recovery from a previous coral bleaching event.

  Exmouth sustained significant damage, with torn roofs and an "obliterated" airport, while the Ningaloo Reef faced heavy surf and impacts to marine life.

• Gascoyne and Midwest Regions: Pastoral stations, including Bullara and Hill Springs, were inundated, experiencing property damage and livestock losses. Carnarvon's fruit and vegetable producers, notably a banana grower, reported significant crop damage (50-80%).
• Road Closures: Extensive sections of the North West Coastal Highway and Minilya Exmouth Road were closed due to flooding, isolating communities.
• Perth and South West: While the core of the cyclone largely bypassed Perth, the city and surrounding areas (including Mandurah, Wheatbelt, Great Southern) received significant rainfall, with predictions of 50-100mm. Some historical comparisons suggested Narelle could be one of the most severe cyclones to affect Perth.
• Tourism Impact: The cyclone struck days before the peak Easter season, leading to mass cancellations and closures of tourist towns like Exmouth, Onslow, and Coral Bay.
• Cleanup and Recovery: Cleanup operations commenced across affected regions. Financial assistance from the WA government, ranging from $1000 to $4000, was announced for affected residents. Roads, including the North West Coastal Highway, reopened more than a week after the damage, allowing some holiday travel to resume with caution.

Queensland Flooding Events (Late 2025 - Early 2026)

Concurrent with and separate from Cyclone Narelle's direct impacts, other weather systems caused widespread and severe flooding across Queensland during late 2025 and early 2026.

Central-West and Outback Queensland
Heavy rainfall over several weeks led to major flooding, isolating numerous towns and causing significant agricultural impacts.

• Winton: The town prepared for significant flood levels, undertaking sandbagging efforts. The Western River at Winton reached a major flood peak of 4.05 meters. Roads on the western side became impassable, isolating the town for approximately one week. Travelers were accommodated at a disaster management center.
• McKinlay Shire (Julia Creek): Communities remained isolated, impacting roads, rail lines, and runways. Preliminary estimates from graziers suggested potential livestock losses of 50 percent or more. Aerial fodder drops were coordinated, and a joint Queensland and Commonwealth government emergency fodder support package of $2 million was allocated for affected shires including McKinlay, Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Flinders, and Richmond.

  Preliminary estimates from graziers in McKinlay Shire suggested potential livestock losses of 50 percent or more, prompting a $2 million emergency fodder support package.

• Longreach: The Thomson River was projected to peak at 6.7 meters, comparable to 1974 and 2000 flood levels, potentially affecting some homes. Residents engaged in sandbagging, and cattle were mustered from flooded paddocks.
• Birdsville and Bedourie: These border towns were surrounded by floodwaters, with the Diamantina Bridge submerged by over seven meters. Bedourie faced prolonged isolation due to localized rainfall and Georgina River flows.
• Fatalities: A man in his 70s was found deceased in a submerged vehicle in Normanton.

Central Queensland
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji brought historic rainfall and flooding to central Queensland.

• Clermont: The town experienced its most severe flooding in over a century, with over 230mm of rain over two days. Approximately 71 homes were affected, with four sustaining significant damage. A community recovery center was established.
• Mackenzie River: The Mackenzie River surpassed major flood levels, with the Tartrus Gauge reaching 16.19 meters. Emergency alerts urged evacuations in low-lying areas between Rockhampton and Emerald.
• Rockhampton: The Fitzroy River was predicted to peak at 7.5 meters, affecting approximately 280 properties in low-lying areas. Sandbagging sites were opened, and swift water rescue crews were deployed. Callaghan Park racecourse was affected, requiring evacuation of horses.
• Stock Losses: Over 51,000 livestock were reported dead or missing statewide following Koji and other rainfall events, with expectations for figures to rise significantly, potentially exceeding 100,000. Under-resourced and faulty rain gauges were a concern.

  Over 51,000 livestock were reported dead or missing statewide, a figure expected to rise significantly, potentially exceeding 100,000.

Southeast Queensland
A tropical low and deepening trough brought severe rainfall, causing flash flooding, riverine flooding, and requiring numerous rescues.

• Bundaberg: The Burnett River overflowed, reaching a major flood peak of 7.4 meters. This resulted in the inundation of approximately 240 homes and 120 businesses. Two community recovery centers were established. A man was reported missing after entering the Burnett River from a houseboat, and a search operation was initiated. A 100-meter section of a levee in the area failed, contributing to slower water reduction.
• Kilkivan (Gympie Region): Two Chinese backpackers, a 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, were found deceased inside their submerged car on Kilkivan Tansey Road after being caught in floodwaters. Their vehicle was located on Wednesday, and bodies were recovered on Thursday.

  This marked the first flood-related fatalities in the region, with two backpackers tragically found deceased in their submerged car.

• Chinchilla: Charleys Creek rose rapidly, leading to an emergency declaration and impacting dozens of businesses and 41 homes. The Warrego Highway was submerged.
• Rescues and Warnings: Multiple swiftwater rescues occurred, including individuals from car roofs in Booubyjan (Gympie), Peachester (Sunshine Coast), and Chinchilla. Police urged residents to avoid floodwaters, issuing fines for driving through them, and deployed extra resources to prosecute those bypassing road closure signs.
• Infrastructure: Major arterial roads, including sections of the Bruce Highway and Burnett Highway, experienced closures. Several dams, including Paradise Dam, were spilling. Power outages affected over 1,000 properties. Nine schools were closed.
• Rainfall: Six-hourly rainfall totals reached up to 160mm in some areas, with overall totals up to 260mm.
• King Tides: King tides in the Townsville area posed a risk to low-lying areas.

Far North Queensland
Isolated heavy rainfall contributed to flash flooding and riverine flooding risk from Cairns to Proserpine. Einasleigh experienced inundation, with residents requiring rescue from rooftops.

Northern Territory Flooding Events

Alice Springs
Flash flooding impacted homes, businesses, and roads in Alice Springs following heavy rainfall, with almost 100mm falling over the Todd River within three hours.

• Rescues: Multiple rescues were conducted, including three people from a car roof and one woman who clung to a tree.
• Impacts: Houses were inundated, particularly on Dixon Road and along Leichhardt Terrace and South Terrace. Unsealed roads across Central Australia remained saturated.
• Calls for Mitigation: Leaders urged investment in flood mitigation, including early warning systems, dredging, and addressing silt build-up. Concerns were raised about residents feeling inadequately informed about the event.
• Hugh River Incident: Approximately 30 individuals were stranded for over 24 hours in Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park after the Hugh River cut off Namatjira Drive. Stranded individuals reported informing emergency services of the situation and their limited supplies, stating police did not arrive until over 24 hours later. Northern Territory Police stated they did not receive reports of any stranded persons requiring medical assistance and determined there was no imminent risk to life, monitoring conditions until the area became accessible.

Daly River
Residents were evacuated to Darwin ahead of floods that affected numerous homes. The Daly River peaked at a record 14.26 meters, later reaching 16.42 meters, surpassing the 1998 record. Authorities anticipated river levels would take weeks to recede.

The Daly River reached a record-breaking 16.42 meters, surpassing its 1998 peak, with river levels expected to take weeks to recede.

Wider Regions
Heavy rainfall across the Barkly and Central Australia regions led to road closures and inundated cattle stations. Elkedra Station received 220-620mm over 48 hours, exceeding double its annual average.

Other Weather Phenomena

Heatwave in Queensland
Western and southern Queensland experienced an intense heatwave. Tuesday recorded the hottest day in 12 years for parts of South West Queensland, with St George reaching 45.7 degrees Celsius and Thargomindah recording 46.6C. Temperatures were expected to persist until the weekend.

Severe Thunderstorms in Southeast Queensland
Severe thunderstorms, associated with a slow-moving trough, resulted in heavy rainfall and flash flooding across southeast Queensland, particularly in the Greater Brisbane area. Approximately 12,000 lightning strikes were recorded across the state's southeast.

Tropical Cyclone Maila: A Developing Threat

Following the widespread severe weather events, Tropical Cyclone Maila formed in the Solomon Sea in early April 2026. This marked the 11th named cyclone in the Australian region for the 2025–26 season. The tropical cyclone season, which runs from November to April, had seen 10 tropical cyclones, with six reaching Category 3 or higher, indicating an above-average season. Maila was expected to be the seventh severe tropical cyclone to make landfall in the Australian region this season.

While Maila was reported as larger than ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle, it was not expected to be as strong.

• Current Status: As of April 4, Maila was a Category 1 system, strengthening to Category 3, with sustained winds of approximately 85 km/h and gusts up to 120 km/h. It was located about 810 km east of Port Moresby, and later observed about 980km east of Port Moresby with wind gusts up to 295km/h.
• Forecasted Path: Maila was anticipated to drift slowly over the Solomon Sea before a strengthening mid-level ridge might steer it southwest into the Coral Sea. Its exact path and intensity beyond midweek remained uncertain, with models showing considerable divergence. It was projected to make landfall on the Cape York Peninsula on Sunday afternoon.
• Potential Impacts: Scenarios included Maila approaching Far North Queensland, crossing the Cape York Peninsula, weakening over land, and then reintensifying in the Gulf of Carpentaria before potentially impacting the eastern Top End. Some models also suggested westward movement towards the Kimberley. Heavy rainfall associated with Maila was anticipated to be largely confined to the Far North.
• Warnings: Residents in Far North Queensland, Cape York, and the Gulf of Carpentaria were advised to monitor updates due to potential heavy rain, damaging winds, and flooding. The Solomon Islands issued warnings for widespread heavy rain, storms, and potential gale force winds.
• Historical Context: Maila's development occurred less than three weeks after Tropical Cyclone Narelle impacted Far North Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. April is historically a common month for cyclones in the Coral Sea; the last cyclone to cross the Queensland coast in April was Ita in 2014.