Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Daly, Tiwi, Arnhem, Gregory and parts of Carpentaria, Barkly and Tanami districts.

Issued at 4:58 pm Tuesday, 16 January 2024.

Heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts over the western and central Top End. Damaging wind gusts with monsoon squalls over the north.

Weather Situation: The monsoon trough lies across the base of the Top End. A tropical low within the trough, centred near Victoria River Downs, continues to slowly deepen, and is expected to move slowly to the east-southeast this evening and Wednesday. Monsoonal flow across the northern Top End is likely to continue this evening and Wednesday, resulting in localised damaging wind gusts with monsoon squalls. Heavy rainfall remains likely near the low.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely over the Daly and Gregory districts, extending over western parts of the Carpentaria district and northwestern parts of the Barkly district overnight and Wednesday as the low moves slowly to the east-southeast. Scattered six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 160 mm are likely over the Daly and Gregory districts, and 80 to 100 mm over the western parts of the Carpentaria and Barkly districts. Heavy falls of this order are less likely north of about Adelaide River.

DAMAGING WIND GUSTS with peak gusts to around 90 km/h are possible with thunderstorms near the low, and in monsoon squalls over the Daly, Tiwi and Arnhem districts.

Locations which may be affected include Darwin, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Palmerston, Jabiru, Maningrida, Wadeye, Wurrumiyanga and Nauiyu.

The Northern Territory Emergency Service advises that people should:
* secure loose outside objects and seek shelter when conditions deteriorate
* pull over if it is raining heavily and you cannot see, park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears
* avoid driving into water of unknown depth and current
* create your own sandbags if there is flooding, by using pillow cases or shopping bags filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home
* stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways
* ensure pets and animals are safe
* be prepared in case of power outages, have an emergency kit with a radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit
* for emergency help in floods, storms and cyclones, contact the NTES on 132 500. For more safety tips visit www.securent.nt.gov.au