The risks posed by Tropical Cyclone Narelle prompted the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to issue a Warning for part of the Cape York Peninsula on Wednesday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Narelle was located at latitude 13.1°S and longitude 149.9°E which put the center about 420 miles (675 km) northeast of Cairns, Australia. Narelle was moving toward the west-southwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 968 mb.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Warning for the coast of Queensland that was in effect from Lockhart River to Cape Tribulation.
A Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Weipa to Kowanyama.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle was strengthening as it moved toward the coast of Queensland.
A small circular eye was present at the center of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Narelle’s circulation. Storms near the center of Narelle generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Narelle was small. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Narelle’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Narelle.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Narelle was 17.8. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 11.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 29.0.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Narelle will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is over the northern part of the Coral Sea. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Narelle will intensify during the next 24 hours. Narelle could intensify rapidly at times. Tropical Cyclone Narelle could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane by Thursday.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle will move around the northern side of a high pressure system that is over the Coral Sea. The high pressure system will steer Narelle toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Narelle will approach the coast of Queensland near Cape Melville in 24 hours.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the northern part of the Cape York Peninsula later this week. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.
Flood Watches are in effect for parts of the Cape York Peninsula and the North Tropical Coast of Queensland.