Cyclone Narelle: Category 5 Storm Threatens Northern Australia

0:00It's March 18th in Adelaide, let's get into the news. Tropical cyclone Narelli is gaining strength as it heads straight for Northern Australia. It's already a Category 4 system, with gusts up to 155 km per hour, and forecasters expected to slam into the far north. Queensland coast as a Category 5 early Friday, packing winds over 250 km per hour. The storm is tracking west toward the coast, between Lockhart River and Cooktown. Damaging winds and heavy rain are set to hit from Thursday was severe impacts likely on Friday morning. Residents in remote towns are evacuating or stocking up on food, water, and fuel. Local business owners like those in Cooktown say they're prepared with generators and supplies, staying calm despite the upgrade to Category 5. Queensland from Mayor David Christopher Lee calls it, one of the biggest storms in living memory and urges everyone to get ready for winds, waves, flooding, and rain.

1:00This would be Queensland's first Category 5 cyclone since Marsha hit in 2015. After crossing Cape York Peninsula, Narelli should weaken a bit but stay a tropical cyclone as it moves west across the Gulf of Carpentaria. Over the weekend, it's forecast to strengthen again before reaching the Northern Territories top end as a Category 3, then pushing toward Western. Terrius Kemberley Coast, officials say communities that prepare will get through it. The Daily News now is grateful to our sponsor for today's episode. It is a pillow that plays your podcast and music without earbuds, built for listening in bed. S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com