Tropical Cyclone Narelle barrels west after ripping off roofs and downing trees in far north Queensland

<p>Second landfall expected over weekend in NT as Queensland premier says relatively limited damage so far ‘an incredibly good news story’</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/mar/20/australia-news-live-tropical-cyclone-narelle-queensland-floods-storm-coen-crisafulli-albanese-cost-of-living-tax-budget-chalmers-gas-fuel-crisis-ntwnfb">Live updates: Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle – latest news</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/19/cyclone-narelle-tracker-map-path-track-tracking-forecast-queensland-qld-update-today-rain-winds-bom-radar-watch-category">Cyclone Narelle path tracking map</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/20/severe-tropical-cyclone-narelle-queensland-cause-global-heating-powerful-storm">How did global heating fuel Tropical Cyclone Narelle?</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle barrelled across far north Queensland on Friday as one of the state’s fiercest cyclones in living memory – downing trees, ripping off roofs and swelling rivers.</p><p>The system crossed the Cape York peninsular at 7am on Friday as a “high-end” category 4 storm with sustained winds of 195km/h – just 5 km/h short of being a category 5 storm.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/20/tropical-cyclone-narelle-poised-to-hit-far-north-queensland-as-high-end-category-f