![](\"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/images\/2026\/03\/260326_himawari9_infrared_Narelle_anim.gif\")
<\/a>2.5-minute Himawari-9 Infrared images, from 0602-2359 UTC on 26 March [click to play animated GIF]<\/p><\/div>2.5-minute Target Sector JMA<\/strong><\/a> Himawari-9 AHI<\/strong><\/a> Infrared images (above)<\/em><\/strong> showed Cyclone Narelle after it had rapidly intensified to a 115 kt Category 4 storm (JTWC discussion<\/strong><\/a> | ADT<\/strong><\/a> | SATCON<\/strong><\/a>) off the coast of Western Australia on 26 March 2026. As Narelle moved southwestward toward the Exmouth Peninsula, it weakened slightly to a 110 kt Category 3 storm by 2100 UTC<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 The coldest cloud-top infrared brightness temperatures were in the -90 to -95C range.<\/p>\n A plot of surface report data from Learmonth Airport (below)<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0depicted a wind gust to 104 kts at 2200 UTC.<\/p>\n Plot of surface report data from Learmonth Airport (YPLM) [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>Himawari-9 Infrared images with an overlay of Deep-Layer Wind Shear (below)<\/em><\/strong> indicated that Narelle was moving through an environment of very low shear \u2014 which, along with warm Sea Surface Temperatures<\/strong><\/a> favored the intensification that Narelle experienced.<\/p>\n Himawari-9 Infrared images, with an overlay of contours and streamlines of Deep-Layer Wind Shear at 1800 UTC on 26 March<\/p><\/div>\n ATMS Microwave image at 1756 UTC on 26 March<\/p><\/div>\n Microwave images from ATMS (above)<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0and DMSP-18 (below)<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0displayed signatures of a partial inner eyewall surrounded by a more complete outer eyewall (with evidence of a moat-like structure separating the two) — indicating that an eyewall replacement cycle was occurring, which in addition to increasing land interaction likely halted further intensification.<\/p>\n<\/a>