Source: Bureau of Meteorology

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

Issued at 10:37 am Saturday, 20 January 2024.

HEAVY, LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL CONTINUING OVER CENTRAL DISTRICTS, SHIFTING WEST ON SUNDAY.

Weather Situation: The monsoon trough lies across the Carpentaria district and is expected to remain in place through the weekend. An embedded tropical low located near Elliott is likely to remain slow moving today before shifting west over the southern Gregory overnight tonight and through Sunday. At the stage, the tropical low is expected to move out of the Northern Territory and into the Kimberley in Western Australia during Monday morning.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely to continue through central inland today, extending west towards the Western Australian border between Newry and Supplejack Downs during Sunday. Scattered six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 to 120 mm are likely.

Locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is also possible with thunderstorms between Kalkarindji and Elliot today, extending west over areas between Newry and Supplejack Downs during Sunday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 120 to 180 mm are possible. A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if very dangerous thunderstorms with INTENSE RAINFALL are detected.

A Flood Watch and multiple Flood Warnings are current for the North Western and parts of the Central Northern Territory.

Locations which may be affected include Tennant Creek, Elliott, Kalkarindji, Lajamanu, Daly Waters and Top Springs.

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