Tropical Cyclone Narelle hit Western Australia west of Exmouth on Thursday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Narelle was located at latitude 23.2°S and longitude 113.7°E which put the center about 18 miles (130 km) south-southwest of Exmouth, Australia.  Narelle was moving toward the south-southwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 955 mb.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Warning that is in effect for the portion of the coast from Onslow to Jurien Bay.  The Warning includes Exmouth, Coral Bay, Carnarvon, Denham, and Geraldton.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle was the equivalent of a major hurricane when it made landfall on the coast of Western Australia.  Narelle may have been in the middle of an eyewall replacement cycle at the time of landfall.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Narelle was large.  Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Narelle’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (285 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Narelle was 20.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 28.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 48.9.  Tropical Cyclone Narelle was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Rita when Rita hit Southwest Louisiana in 2005.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle will move around the northeastern part of an upper level trough that is southwest of Australia.  The upper level trough will steer Narelle toward the south-southeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Narelle will move along the coast of Western Australia.  The center of Narelle’s circulation will pass near Carnarvon in 12 hours.  The center of Tropical Cyclone Narelle will be near Morawa in 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Western Australia.  Narelle will be capable of causing major damage.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

Flood Watches are in effect for western parts of the Pilbara, Gascoyne, Central Coastal, and Lower West Coast catchments.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle could also cause a storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) along parts of the coast.