Australia Weather News

Authorities are growing frustrated with people continuing to drive across fast-moving creek crossings, as hundreds of millimetres of rain swells river catchments across WA's north.

A second carload of people had to be rescued in as many days, after being swept downstream in a failed attempt to cross a 200-metre-wide floodway on Tuesday night.

Sergeant Dave Loverock, from Kununurra police, said the Northern Territory couple were attempting to drive to Lake Argyle about 7:00pm.

"They came to a 200-metre-wide section of floodwaters at Granite Creek, and as they drove across the floodwaters have washed them off the road and down the creek," he said.

"Luckily they were carrying a personal locator beacon and they were both set off.

"The joint rescue coordination centre in Canberra gave us a call in Kununurra and we sent a van out there to give them a hand and rescue them."

He said they got out of the vehicle unharmed, but then had to wait a few hours before anyone could assist them.

The police van sent to the remote spot had to wait several hours before the creek crossing lowered to the point it was safe to drive across and reach the couple.

Police say they were cold, wet and frustrated by the time officers reached them, but also appreciative of their lucky escape.

"It would have been very different circumstances ... they could have been washed further down the creek, or left out there until someone went passed and realised there was a car 50 metres up the creek," Sergeant Loverock said.

The car and boat they were towing remain in the fast-running creek, and will only be salvaged once the rain has stopped.

The rescue came two days after a group of men deliberately breached a highway closure east of Fitzroy Crossing, and were swept downstream in their car as Main Roads staff watched on incredulously.

The four men sat on the roof over their car before swimming to higher ground. The driver has been issued with a fine.

Rain, flooding here to stay

Rain has bucketed down in WA's far north in recent days, with many sites in the central and East Kimberley receiving more than 200 millimetres during the week.

Traffic struggled in Kununurra overnight, as 70 millimetres of rain in 24 hours caused streets in the centre of town to flood.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services area officer Felix McQuistan said people needed to take responsibility for their own safety when embarking on road trips in coming weeks.

"The main message is to obey road closure signs, they're there for a reason and it's about public safety," he said.

"We can only continue to send that message out, that people do need to be careful when they are travelling."