Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in parts of Arnhem district.

Issued at 4:50 pm Friday, 15 March 2024.
Damaging winds and heavy rainfall continue for east Top End, contracting to eastern coastal fringes on Saturday.

Weather Situation: A tropical low, currently located offshore to the south-southeast of Nhulunbuy, will continue to move to the southeast further into the Gulf of Carpentaria during this evening and over the weekend. A vigorous monsoonal flow on the northern flank of the low brings the risk of damaging winds to the northeast Arnhem coast, while heavy rainfall is more likely further inland on the western flank of the low.
Strong to DAMAGING west to northwesterly winds averaging 50 to 65 km/h with gusts of around 100 km/h are likely along the northeast Arnhem coast east of Milingimbi during this evening, contracting to the far eastern Arnhem coastal fringes by early Saturday morning.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for eastern parts of the Arnhem district during this evening, before contracting to the eastern Arnhem coastal fringes during Saturday morning. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 150 mm are possible. 24-hourly rainfall totals up to 220 mm are possible.
A separate Tropical Cyclone Advice is current for parts of the Arnhem and Carpentaria districts and Groote Eylandt. See http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/index.shtml for more information.

A Flood Watch is also current for the eastern Top End catchments. See http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/warnings/ for more information.
Locations which may be affected include Nhulunbuy, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Galiwinku, Bulman and Gapuwiyak.
Severe weather is no longer occurring in the Carpentaria district and the warning for this district is CANCELLED.

Significant wind observations to 4:45 pm ACST Friday include:

A wind gust of 103 km/h was recorded at Ngayawili Airport at 7:12 am.
A wind gust of 93 km/h was recorded at Cape Wessel at 11:36 am.

Significant rainfall recorded in the previous 24 hours to 4:45 pm ACST Friday include:
190 mm at Milingimbi Airport, including 136 mm in a 6 hour period to 7:56 am.
160 mm at Ngayawili, including 138 mm in a 6 hour period to 12:35 pm.
159 mm at Oenpelli.

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