Cyclone Narelle: What it means for Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef

Cyclone Narelle made landfall along Queensland's coast as a Category 4 system, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Tropical cyclones are a natural part of life in northern Australia, but systems of this intensity are becoming more powerful and less predictable.

With very destructive 285 kilometre per hour winds, severe cyclones like Narelle can significantly impact coastal communities and the Great Barrier Reef — causing physical damage to coral, disrupting marine ecosystems and slowing recovery from existing pressures such as coral bleaching.

Severe tropical cyclones don’t just affect the Reef, they have significant consequences for coastal communities across Queensland.

High winds, heavy rainfall, flooding and storm surges can:

• damage homes and critical infrastructure
• disrupt transport and essential services
• impact industries like tourism, fishing and marine operations

For many communities along the Great Barrier Reef, these events are becoming more challenging as extreme weather events intensify.

Cyclones play a natural role in shaping Reef ecosystems but high-intensity cyclones can cause widespread damage.

Strong waves and currents can:

• Break apart coral structures
• Create unstable coral rubble
• Displace marine life
• Damage fragile reef habitats

While some reefs can recover over time, repeated or severe disturbances make recovery slower and more difficult, particularly when combined with other pressures like marine heatwaves and coral bleaching.

A significant impact of cyclones occurs after the storm passes. Heavy rainfall and flooding can wash large amounts of sediment and pollutants from land into the ocean.

This runoff can:

• smother coral and reduce light needed for growth
• cause fast-growing algae to take over, making it harder for coral to survive and recover
• impact seagrass meadows, which are critical habitats for dugongs and turtles

Poor water quality can persist for weeks or months, affecting the Reef’s ability to recover.

Scientists are observing changes in tropical cyclone behaviour, with warming ocean temperatures contributing to more intense storms.

While cyclones are a natural feature of Australia’s climate, a warming world is influencing how strong they become and the impacts they have on both communities and ecosystems. 

The Great Barrier Reef supports thousands of species and plays a vital role in Queensland’s economy, including tourism and fisheries.

When severe events like Cyclone Narelle occur, recovery becomes critical — not just for the Reef itself, but for the communities and industries that depend on it.

We have three ways to promote reef recovery:

1. Rubble stabilisation

We use artificial tools like mesh netting and carbonate rocks to stabilise rubble so new corals can grow. We also replace damaged or lost reef with new structures, including cradle-like devices.

2. Coral seeding

We capture coral spawn and rear baby corals in floating pools on the Reef. When they are ready, we deliver the babies to damaged areas to help repopulate them using a number of techniques including coral IVF and seedboxes.

3. Seagrass restoration

By restoring seagrass meadows, we can boost the Reef’s blue carbon capacity, provide habitats for Reef animals and filter pollutants from the water, significantly improving overall Reef health. At the world's largest seagrass nursery, we're cultivating seagrass, trialling large-scale, seed-based restoration techniques and providing training for seagrass cultivation in partnership with Traditional Owners.