Cyclone Narelle Strengthens, Headed Towards WA Coast

0:00It's March 24, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Sydney News today, your AI-powered local news. Tropical Cyclone Narell has crossed northern Australia over the past week and is now strengthening as it nears western Australia's coast, the storm, which started as a tropical low-off Queensland, has made landfall three times already. Forecasters upgraded it back to Cyclone's status Tuesday evening near the Kimberly Coast, and it's picking up speed parallel to the Pillbara region. Here this week, it weakened briefly after crossing the far northern Kimberly on Monday, but it's rebuilding quickly now. Mural of meteorology experts predicted will hit severe category 3, strength as early as tonight, while staying offshore north of the Pillbara. Communities along the Pillbara coast, vital for the state's iron ore exports, are on alert for possible disruptions. This marched the first Cyclone to track east to west across northern Australia in more than a decade, since tropical Cyclone Nathan back in 2015.

1:02On Thursday, the Cyclone should linger in that offshore area before curving south. That shift will bring heavy rain and strong winds to much of southern western Australia over the weekend, including the wheat belt, Perth, and down to, Albany in the Great Southern. Officials urge residents in those areas to prepare for unusual impacts this far south, but the storm's path still under close watch for any sudden changes.