Around 500 people sheltering in Darwin school gym as Tropical Cyclone Narelle barrels towards NT coast

Affected communities in Queensland and the NT can apply for an Australian government disaster recovery payment from 2pm Saturday

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Thousands of people are bracing for Severe Cyclone Narelle as it barrels towards the Northern Territory, with winds of up to 195km/h expected from the dangerous storm as it moves west from far north Queensland.

Narelle was downgraded from a category 4 to a 2 as it moved through the Gulf of Carpentaria after making landfall across Cape York on Friday, forecasted to hit eastern Top End late Saturday.