Cyclone Nareli Disrupts Western Australia

Tropical cyclone Narelle swept across western parts of Australia on Sunday, causing widespread power outages, rare atmospheric phenomena, and significant disruption to liquefied natural gas production at key facilities.

Reports from Western Australia, cited by Financial Express, indicated that thousands of residents lost electricity as strong winds battered the region. The storm also produced striking visuals, with skies turning a deep red, sparking widespread reaction on social media.

Meteorologists explained that the unusual coloration was caused by large amounts of dust lifted by the cyclone in the Shark Bay region. 

The area’s soil, rich in iron oxide, scattered sunlight in a way that gave the sky its dramatic red hue.

The storm also had a major economic impact, particularly on the energy sector. Chevron and Woodside Energy reported disruptions across several major facilities. 

These included the Wheatstone platform and units at the Gorgon plant operated by Chevron, as well as the Karratha plant run by Woodside.

Together, these facilities account for around 5 percent of global liquefied natural gas production capacity, raising concerns about increased pressure on global energy supplies. Domestic gas production within Australia was also temporarily suspended.

A spokesperson for Chevron Australia said the severe weather linked to Cyclone Narelle likely caused operational disruptions at the Gorgon and Wheatstone sites, adding that full production would resume once safety checks are completed.

Cyclone Narelle initially made landfall as a powerful Category 4 system in Queensland on March 20 before tracking across the Northern Territory and into Western Australia.

Videos showing the red sky triggered debate online, with some questioning their authenticity. 

However, eyewitnesses confirmed the footage was real, describing the scene as a stark illustration of the extreme weather conditions affecting the region.