AM Cyclone Narelle bears down on far north Queensland
Mar 19, 2026
Ashton Hearn, South Australian Liberal leader navigating the state campaign and policy fights. Kayman Gok, North America correspondent covering Pentagon funding and diplomatic fallout. Kimberley Price, ABC reporter on the ground in far north Queensland amid cyclone preparations. They discuss the cyclone's path and community preparedness, Coral Sea warming and its role in storm strength, and political and military developments in the US.
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Warm Coral Sea Fueled Cyclone Narelle
- Tropical Cyclone Narelle is powered by record-high Coral Sea temperatures near 29.5°C, which fuel greater moisture and intensity.
- Dr Andrew Watkins links these warm basin-wide waters to stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and worse coastal damage in the region.
Tiny Port Stewart Empties For Evacuation
- Port Stewart residents evacuated inland as Narelle approached, leaving a town of 20 empty and moving to Cowan for safety.
- Mary Withers grabbed her husband's ashes and a few clothes and stayed overnight in a brick schoolroom rather than her tin house.
Choose Sturdy Shelter During Cyclone Warnings
- Communities should evacuate vulnerable homes and use sturdier buildings when warned, prioritising safety over possessions.
- Local services went house to house and people stayed in cyclone-rated or brick structures rather than tin homes.