Australia braces as cyclone Narelle makes landfall in Queensland

A cyclone has made landfall in north Queensland, Australia, with residents reporting strong winds, damaged roofs and felled trees.

Tropical cyclone Narelle was initially classified as Category 5 before being downgraded to Category 3, reported Katie Macdonald of the Pacific Dispatch. 

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said Narelle is now moving across the Cape York Peninsula and will continue into the Gulf of Carpentaria, where it is expected to strengthen to a severe tropical cyclone.

“There are small towns there that have all been put on emergency alert… There are more remote communities that are affected up there,” said Macdonald.

Narelle is expected to impact the Northern Territory from late Saturday. 

The bureau forecasts gale-force winds, flooding, and storm surges. 

"It's one of those unusual weather events, with stronger intensity and speed than we've seen before,” said Macdonald.

To listen to Macdonald in conversation with CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: