Media alert - How climate change influences tropical cyclones like Narelle
Climate Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tropical Cyclone Narelle is currently heading towards the Queensland coast, the Northern Territory and Western Australia: tracking towards saturated catchments that have already been hit by storms and heavy rainfall over the summer.
The Climate Council has experts available to explain the conditions that can make tropical cyclones more intense and destructive.
The Climate Council’s Breakneck Speed: Summer of Climate Whiplash report released on Tuesday March 17, explains how climate pollution is influencing tropical cyclones in Australia:
Climate pollution from the burning of coal, oil and gas has made our oceans hotter which helps to drive more ferocious and destructive cyclones.
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Sea surface temperatures around Australia’s coast were record warm in 2025, and 0.93°C above the 1961–1990 average. 2025 broke the previous record of 0.90°C above average in 2024. This helps cyclones to form, which typically need water temperatures of 26.5°C or more (BoM 2026).
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Ten of Australia’s top 11 warmest years on record for ocean temperatures have occurred since 2010.
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Rising ocean surface temperatures and a warmer, wetter atmosphere means more energy for tropical cyclones to draw on once they have formed.
The risks of coastal erosion and flooding damage from cyclones are greater due to climate change.
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When combined with rising sea levels, storm surges from tropical cyclones can create greater coastal erosion and inundation of coastal communities (Australian Climate Service 2025).
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A warmer atmosphere means tropical cyclones can dump more rain. In Australia, the latest research shows for every degree of global warming, we will experience about 7–28% more rain for hourly or shorter duration extreme rainfall events, and 2–15% more rain for daily or longer duration extreme rainfall events (Wasko et al. 2024).
Climate pollution is driving more costly extreme weather events overall.
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In the 1980s the average annual economic loss for climate disasters was estimated to be $60 per person. From 2020 to 2024 this had risen to $193 per person - a 222% increase (ICA 2025).
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Home insurance costs for Australian households have increased by 51% over the last five years
Climate Councillor, Adjunct Professor Andrew Watkins is available for interview.
Adjunct Professor Watkins is a former head of climate prediction at the Bureau of Meteorology and Lead Author of Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment with the Australian Climate Service. He can talk about:
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Climate science associated with tropical cyclones,
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How tropical cyclones have changed and are expected to change in the future due to climate pollution,
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Typical rainfall impacts, and coastal sea level/inundation impacts of tropical cyclones.
For interviews please contact the Climate Council media team on [email protected] or call 0485 863 063.
The Climate Media Centre can connect reporters with experts and locals impacted by climate events. Contact [email protected] or (02) 9056 8266
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For more information view - Section 4 (p55) of our new report Breakneck Speed: Summer of Climate Whiplash. You can also find more information in Climate Council’s Eye of the Storm report on tropical cyclones from 2025. |
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About us:
The Climate Council is an independent, community-funded organisation. We provide evidence-based information on climate change impacts and solutions to journalists, policymakers, and the wider Australian community.
For further information, go to: climatecouncil.org.au