Cyclone Narelle: WA Recovery; QLD Flooding; NT Aftermath; Road Reopenings

Cyclone Narelle has moved through Western Australia, and communities are now focused on clean-up and recovery. While the immediate threat has passed for WA, Queensland continues to grapple with flooding from previous heavy rainfall events, and the Northern Territory is still managing the residual effects of the cyclone's initial landfall. Road access is gradually being restored in affected areas, allowing stranded visitors to leave. ## Latest Update Roads are set to reopen in Exmouth, allowing visitors who were stuck in the town when Cyclone Narelle passed to leave. Emergency services and local councils are assessing infrastructure damage and clearing debris from major roads as the weather system weakens and moves away from the Gascoyne coast. ## Timeline * 2026-02-26: Gulf of Carpentaria residents face prolonged isolation due to ongoing floodwaters. * 2026-03-02: The Northern Territory declares an emergency as heavy rain brings flooding risks to Central Australia and the Barkly region. * 2026-03-02: A tropical low forms in the Coral Sea, threatening to become a cyclone and causing river levels in Queensland to rise and fall unpredictably. * 2026-03-03: The tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to bring heavy rain and potential flash flooding to Queensland's North Tropical Coast and Tablelands regions. * 2026-03-05: A tropical low is expected to cross the Queensland coast, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to the already saturated northern region. * 2026-03-19: Category five Tropical Cyclone Narelle approaches the Cape York Peninsula, prompting residents to take shelter. * 2026-03-20: Far North Queensland remains on flood alert as recovery efforts begin after Tropical Cyclone Narelle, with significant rainfall continuing. * 2026-03-22: The Northern Territory braces for wind and rain as ex-Cyclone Narelle moves into the Top End. * 2026-03-22: Tropical Cyclone Narelle threatens Western Australia after a second landfall, bringing strong winds and flooding risks across Northern Australia. * 2026-03-23: Ex-Cyclone Narelle crosses into Western Australia, with a risk of reforming into a tropical cyclone and potentially curving back to the coast. * 2026-03-24: Tropical Cyclone Narelle re-forms off the Western Australian coast and is expected to reach category three. * 2026-03-27: Cyclone Narelle crosses the Western Australian coast, impacting coastal communities and industrial operations with destructive winds and heavy rainfall. * 2026-03-27: Northern Western Australia begins assessing damage as Cyclone Narelle moves across the Gascoyne and Midwest regions. * 2026-03-30: Roads are set to reopen in Exmouth as the clean-up continues after Cyclone Narelle. ## What to Watch * Monitor weather forecasts for potential reformation of the cyclone or further impacts from the associated weather system. * Track progress of infrastructure restoration and road reopening efforts in affected areas. * Stay updated on flood warnings and river levels in Queensland, particularly in areas already saturated from previous rainfall.