Around 500 people sheltering in Darwin school gym as Tropical Cyclone Narelle barrels towards NT coast

<p>Very destructive winds gusting up to 195km/h are forecasted with the storm expected to intensify before it makes landfall again </p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Thousands of people are bracing for Severe Cyclone Narelle as it barrels towards the Northern Territory, with winds of up to 195km/h expected from the dangerous storm as it moves west from far north Queensland.</p><p>Narelle was downgraded from a category 4 to a 2 as it moved through the Gulf of Carpentaria after making landfall across Cape York on Friday, forecasted to hit eastern Top End late Saturday.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/21/tropical-cyclone-narelle-nt-prepares-queensland-support-payments">Continue reading...</a>