Possible impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle in Western Australia

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle is forecast to intensify back into a tropical cyclone and approach the west coast of Western Australia later this week. However, there is still a range of possible scenarios of where Narelle could track. The cyclone may hug or cross the north-west coast, bringing heavy rain and damaging to destructive winds to the Gascoyne and Mid West regions and then south towards Perth. Another possibility has the cyclone remaining offshore for longer and then crossing closer to Perth, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds to highly populated areas.

Once the cyclone crosses the coast, rain will extend over the Wheatbelt before the system moves offshore and into the southern ocean early next week. A tropical cyclone this far south in Western Australia is a rare occurrence. The last time this happened was in 2021 when Tropical Cyclone Seroja crossed the coast near Kalbarri as a severe category 3 system causing widespread damage. A coastal crossing near Perth is even less common.

Tropical cyclones have had significant impacts in south-west WA in the past. Notably Tropical Cyclone Ned in 1989 and Tropical Cyclone Alby in 1978. So, if you’re along the west coast of WA, including Perth, be sure to stay up to date with the latest forecasts from the Bureau across the week.