Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Tiwi and parts of Daly and Arnhem districts.

Issued at 4:44 am Thursday, 14 March 2024.
Damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall expected for the northern Top End and Tiwi Islands.

Weather Situation: A tropical low near the Tiwi Islands is forecast to move east over the western Arnhem district during today. A strengthening monsoonal flow on the northern flank of the low brings the risk of damaging winds gusts while heavy rainfall is more likely on the southern and western flanks.

Strong west to northwesterly winds averaging 50 to 60 km/h with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of around 90 km/h are possible over the northern Daly district, Cobourg Peninsula and the Tiwi Islands from early Thursday morning. DAMAGING WINDS GUSTS are expected to extend east along the north Arnhem coast during Thursday afternoon.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for northern Daly district from early Thursday morning, extending across more inland areas of the Daly and western Arnhem districts Thursday afternoon and evening. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 150 mm are likely, with 24 hour totals of around 180 mm also possible.

A separate Severe Weather Warning for DAMAGING SURF is current for coastal areas between Elcho Island and the Cobourg Peninsula as well as the north Tiwi Islands coast. See http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/warnings/ for more information.

A Flood Watch is current for northern and western Top End catchments. See http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/warnings/ for more information.
Locations which may be affected include Darwin, Palmerston, Jabiru, Maningrida, Wurrumiyanga and Pirlangimpi.

Severe weather is no longer occurring in the Carpentaria district and the warning for this district is CANCELLED.

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