Tropical Cyclone Narelle 09:00 Thursday 26 March 2026 (AWST)
As at 09:00 Thursday 26 March 2026, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) advises Tropical Cyclone Narelle lies north of Port Hedland and is tracking steadily to the west-southwest.
The environment is favourable, and the system is forecast to continue intensifying, with the forecast indicating category 4 by Thursday afternoon.
A period of rapid intensification is likely during the next 30 hours, and the chance of Narelle reaching category 5 intensity while north of the Pilbara coast is around 30%.
There is high confidence in the track to the west-southwest on Thursday, roughly parallel to the Pilbara coast. The extent of gales and storm force winds south of Narelle is likely to be larger than normal.
Sustained gales are occurring over coastal parts of the Pilbara, with storm force winds just offshore.
As of 09:00 Thursday 26 2026, Pilbara Ports has closed the Ports of Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier and Varanus Island.
All recreational vessel owners must safely secure their vessels for cyclonic conditions.
For specific information regarding your location, please refer to DFES emergency alerts website.
For the latest cyclone warnings visit www.bom.gov.au/cyclone.
Pilbara Ports has implemented a comprehensive emergency response plan to effectively manage emergencies within port limits.
The emergency response plan:
In the event of an oil spill, Pilbara Ports is required to provide emergency response planning and capabilities to protect land and marine resources surrounding the Port of Varanus Island.
Oil pollution response, equipment deployment training and exercise programs are held frequently throughout the year.
Cyclone events may be experienced within the west Pilbara region during cyclone season, which runs from November to April.
In the event of a cyclone impacting the area, regular briefings are posted to Pilbara Ports website to notify ships of potential disruptions, port closures and re-opening times.
Masters should familiarise themselves with Pilbara Ports Cyclone Response Plan and ensure every precaution is taken to minimise impacts should a cyclone eventuate
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Port communications (24/7) P: 08 9159 6556 M: 0428 888 800
Police and emergency services P: 000
VHF channel: 79