According to the latest storm news from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Typhoon Narelle made landfall early this morning March 20, with sustained winds at the center of about 195 km/h and gusts that could reach 270 km/h.
Some forecasts suggest that people and tourists in shelters may face winds exceeding 250 km/h.
BOM said tropical storm Narelle has weakened to Category 3, but still maintains strong winds and continues to have a significant impact on the northern coastal area of Queensland.
The storm center is currently located near the area about 45 km north of Coen, with sustained winds around the center reaching about 155 km/h, gusting up to 220 km/h.
The storm is moving westward at a speed of about 20 km/h and is expected to continue to affect many areas during the day.
Warning near the storm center area, gusts can exceed 230 km/h, even in some places it is possible to reach over 250 km/h, enough to cause heavy damage to houses and infrastructure.
Rainfall recorded in some areas has increased rapidly, with Wenlock River reaching 239 mm and Pascoe River reaching 201 mm. Heavy rain combined with strong winds has increased the risk of localized flooding and fallen trees in directly affected areas.
At some locations such as Port Douglas, high tides combined with large waves have caused the beach to erode significantly, sweeping away many meters of sand compared to previous days. This shows that the scope of impact of the storm system can extend hundreds of kilometers beyond the storm center.
In areas near the storm center, many people reported the situation of fallen trees, roofs blown off and property damage. Some households have had to evacuate or take shelter at solid structures to ensure safety when the storm passes.
With complicated weather conditions, tourism activities in the North Queensland area and surrounding areas may be interrupted. Visitors need to closely monitor information from local meteorological agencies, limit travel to coastal areas, low-lying areas or landslide-prone areas.
In addition, transportation, electricity, telecommunications and accommodation services at some destinations may be temporarily affected by strong winds, heavy rain and power outages. Tourists should proactively adjust their schedules, prepare contingency plans and comply with safety instructions from local authorities.
The storm situation is still being closely monitored and may change depending on the direction of movement and intensity of the system in the coming hours.
