Australia Weather News

Katherine is anxiously waiting to see if the town will flood for the second time this month, as ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle moves out of the Northern Territory.

Now a tropical low, the weather system passed just north of Katherine on Sunday night — its impact on the already saturated Top End town will be determined today.

The Bureau of Metereology (BOM) said river levels at Katherine Bridge could exceed the minor flood level of 16 metres this morning, with the potential of rising to the major flood level of 17.5 metres on Tuesday.

Scores of homes and businesses were inundated by flooding earlier this month, with several remote communities and surrounding rural areas also impacted.

An estimated 10,000 sandbags have been distributed around Katherine in an attempt to ward off floodwater, while the NT government has requested more support from the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Katherine Hospital has again been evacuated and closed, with the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre setting up a field hospital in Katherine East.

What is the latest weather advice?

The deep tropical low, which is approaching Western Australia today, is the seventh high-risk weather event this wet season.

On Monday morning, BOM said part of Adelaide River had reached the major flood level as a result of overnight rains.

The bureau said flooding there was "likely to peak near 12.70m" on Monday morning.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said flooding at Adelaide River had impacted about four homes, with power outages and an active boil water alert in place.

The Stuart Highway was cut by floodwater north of Adelaide River, but Mrs Finocchiaro reassured Territorians "there are plenty of supplies and stores, both south of Katherine and north, obviously here in Darwin".

"It's cut off right now and we're hoping that [flooding] recedes quickly, but it really just depends what weather we've got coming down and through the system," she said.

Meanwhile in Katherine, the river could see major flooding again this week, and a number of sodden communities surrounding the town are also expecting waters to rise again.

In the nearby community of Beswick, the BOM said major flooding could develop from late Monday morning.

At the Daly River, major flooding continues to submerge the evacuated community of Nauiyu.

The chief minister has urged residents in Darwin's rural area to be on alert for flash flooding related to the shifting low pressure system.

That includes near Darwin River Dam, where pumping infrastructure was flooded earlier this month and took Darwin's main water supply offline.

Residents still mopping up after initial flood

Tara and Sarah Whitchelo live in Katherine's north, which flooded earlier this month.

The couple and their eight-month-old baby boy Luca were visiting family in Darwin when the flood hit.

The bottom level of their house was inundated.

"We lost a fair bit of stuff but all of it is replaceable," Sarah said.

"But there was a lot of mud down there and it stunk."

The pair were still mopping up from the first disaster when they began preparations for a possible second flood event this week.

"It's been a lot," Sarah said.

"We were still doing the clean-up from the last flood while also trying to prepare for this one."

After sandbagging their home and moving belongings upstairs, they made the decision to stay at a hotel for a few days to see out the worst of the weather.

"This time round we decided, with an eight-week-old, [we] didn't want to risk being out of power and flooded and isolated," Tara said.

The young family are packed into a hotel room with their dog, Jet, and a friend's dog, Theo.

Having just experienced Katherine's worst flood in decades, the couple are watching the river levels closely.

Speaking on Sunday, Sarah said they were apprehensive to see what ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle delivered overnight.

"It feels really eerie at the moment in town," she said.

"It's quiet but also people are rushing around almost panicking now."

Despite managing being first-time parents and consecutive natural disasters, the couple said the local community had made them feel supported.

"At least this second time around we knew more what to expect," Tara said.

"Let's just prepare for the worst, hope for the best."

Bush communities prepare to be isolated

While residents in Katherine prepare their homes and businesses, many people from surrounding communities have also been stocking up on supplies after the earlier floods cut-off road access.

Marleen Lee and her family travelled to Katherine from Manyallaluk, a community east of Katherine, to get extra groceries and essentials in case roads became impassable again.

"It was pretty bad last time, we weren't prepared, didn't have a enough food," Ms Lee said.

Christello Birdum was staying at the community of Rockhole outside Katherine two weeks ago when the town became isolated.

"I'm a bit worried, had to stock up," he said.

Dawn Keighran, from the community of Borroloola more than 600km east of Katherine, has been in town since Christmas after consecutive weather events across the Top End.

"I come here then got caught up here with all this rain, couldn't get back home," Mr Keighran said.

Mr Keighran said this year's wet season has been unlike anything he's experienced before.

"Never seen anything like this," he said.

"In the old days the rain used to start in February and knock off in March but look now, it just keeps going, on and on," he said.

What assistance is available?

Personal hardship payments have been activated for people impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

Eligible residents in the following areas will be able to access Personal Hardship Payments:

The payments include:

The support is being provided by the federal and NT governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.