Source: Bureau of Meteorology

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

Issued at 4:43 am Thursday, 18 January 2024.

SEVERE MONSOON SQUALLS IN THE NORTH, HEAVY, LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL AND DAMAGING WINDS NEAR LOW.

Weather Situation: The monsoon trough extends across the base of the Top End and is expected to remain in place for the rest of the week. An embedded tropical low located near Elliott remains slow moving and will also linger in place for the next few days. Strong monsoonal flow will continue over far northern parts of the Top End.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely over areas around and between roughly Pine Creek, Ngukurr, Tennant Creek, Lajamanu and Wadeye during Thursday and into Friday. Scattered six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 to 150 mm are likely.

Locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is also possible with thunderstorms around the western and southern flanks of the tropical low during this period with six-hourly rainfall totals between 150 to 200 mm possible. A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if very dangerous thunderstorms with intense rainfall are detected.

DAMAGING WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are possible with thunderstorms near the low, and in monsoon squalls over coastal and exposed areas across the northern Top End.

Locations which may be affected include Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy, Maningrida, Elliott and Kalkarindji.

Severe weather is no longer occurring in the Tiwi 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