Cyclone Narelle cuts off Exmouth, destroys airport terminal

EXMOUTH — Tropical Cyclone Narelle destroyed Exmouth's airport terminal and cut all road access to the Western Australian town after making landfall as a Category 4 system.

The storm brought wind gusts up to 250km/h and 350mm of rain — a year's worth — in a 12-hour window. The town remains without power or scheme water. Emergency crews are working to clear debris from the main access roads. The full extent of the damage is still unknown, as communications networks are largely offline.

Shire president Matthew Nikkula told reporters the town looked like a war zone. There is currently no way in or out. Air travel has ceased because of damage to runways and the terminal building. No planes can land or unload supplies.

It looked like a war zone.

— Matthew Nikkula, Exmouth Shire President

Third disaster in 2026

The disaster is the region's third major event this year, following a severe heatwave and Cyclone Mitchell last month. Carnarvon banana growers report losing more than 80 per cent of their crops. Local grower Les Ball told Nine News the damage will have long-term consequences for the agricultural industry.

Only about 15 per cent of Australia's bananas come from Western Australia. The majority are grown in Queensland. Growers said the loss will not immediately affect supermarket prices. It will take months before WA bananas return to shelves.

The storm system is the second longest-living cyclone on record, behind Cyclone Nathan. It tracked across Queensland and the Northern Territory before sweeping out to sea and re-intensifying. The system made landfall three times in total.

Tourism season destroyed

The damage forces the cancellation of Easter holiday bookings during the region's peak tourism season. Operators closed on Friday and cancelled bookings just a week out from the holiday period. Local businesses depend heavily on the Easter influx for their annual revenue.

Dave Gillespie from Exmouth Escape Resort told Nine News it was part of the burden of operating in the region. The airport's destruction complicates both emergency response and future tourism logistics. Visitors will have no way to fly in even after roads reopen.

One resident who has lived through multiple cyclones said Narelle was by far the worst and most scary storm she had experienced. Many homes sustained roof damage. Homeowner Brock Keymor discovered half his roof had been ripped off after hearing loud banging during the storm.

Perth's wettest March day since 1934

The system continued south after devastating the Pilbara region. Perth recorded 63mm of rain, making it the city's wettest March day since 1934. Mandurah received more than 100mm in 24 hours, well above the March average of 15mm.

The SES received more than 120 calls for help across the Perth metropolitan area. DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm said the call volume was relatively low given the severity of the weather.

The storm whipped up dust storms that painted Carnarvon and Shark Bay in shades of orange and red. Kerrie Shepherd from Shark Bay Caravan Park described the scene as apocalyptic. Residents could taste dust in their mouths and eyes.

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook addressed the affected communities on Sunday. He said everyone in the north-west was made of tough stuff. The state government is coordinating with federal authorities to secure disaster relief funding.

The compounding effect of three natural disasters within months places unprecedented strain on the state's emergency response capabilities. Local governments are requesting additional resources to manage the cleanup. The recovery process will require sustained investment from both state and federal governments. Exmouth's isolation will persist until road access can be restored and debris cleared from the airport.