Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle has weakened to a tropical low after bringing heavy rain to the Northern Territory, but forecasters warn it could reintensify into a severe cyclone and threaten Western Australia's coast, including the Perth region, this weekend.
The system is expected to move into the Indian Ocean on Tuesday evening, then track south parallel to the WA coastline, regaining strength to become a severe cyclone by Wednesday evening. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts Narelle could reach category four intensity by Thursday, bringing damaging winds and heavy rain to coastal areas.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro expressed relief as the system moved into WA, noting it had dropped significant rain and caused road closures, including on the Stuart Highway. Several NT communities remain on flood alert after more than 100mm of rain fell on Sunday.
Meteorologist Ilana Cherny said there is good confidence Narelle will move offshore near the Pilbara coast, but uncertainty remains about its path later in the week. It could potentially cross the coast again in central or southern WA, bringing welcome rainfall to agricultural districts north of Perth.
Such a southerly impact is unusual but not unprecedented, with past examples including Cyclone Alby in 1978 and Cyclone Seroja in 2021. Narelle formed in the Coral Sea last Tuesday and has travelled over 5,000km, a rare east-to-west crossing; the last such event was Cyclone Steve in 2000.
