Tropical Cyclone Narelle developed over the Coral Sea on Monday night.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Narelle was located at latitude 12.4°S and longitude 154.8°E which put the center about 705 miles (1140 km) east-northeast of Cairns, Australia.  Narelle was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.

A low pressure system over the Coral Sea strengthened on Monday night and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Watch for the coast of Queensland from Lockhart River to Port Douglas.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle was intensifying rapidly on Tuesday morning.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Narelle’s circulation.  A small eye appeared to be forming at the center of Tropical Cyclone Narelle.  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 tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Narelle’s circulation.

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.  Tropical Cyclone Narelle will strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon during the next few hours.  Narelle could intensify 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 48 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.