- Australia is preparing for Storm Narelle, which is expected to make landfall near Coen, Cape York Peninsula, on Friday as a Category 5 tropical cyclone with wind gusts up to 300kmph.
- If it crosses at this strength, it would be the first Category 5 system to hit that stretch of coastline in over a century and only the fourth in Queensland in 50 years.
- Queensland Premier David Crisafulli urged residents to prepare or evacuate, warning of destructive winds reaching inland areas, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a potentially ”very dangerous” event.
- Police disaster coordinator Chris Stream warned against going outside during the cyclone, stating that debris propelled at high speeds could be fatal.
- After crossing Cape York, the storm is forecast to re-intensify over the Gulf of Carpentaria before potentially striking the eastern Northern Territory over the weekend, bringing heavy rainfall and flood risks.
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