A dozen remote communities isolated, railway out of action for 2 days as ex-cyclone sets in

Remote communities are isolated and the Territory’s railway could be out of action for as long as two days in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie. Find out where the worst-hit places are.

A dozen remote communities are isolated and the Territory’s railway could be closed for as long as two days, as ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie continues to dump rain across the Territory.

The ex-cyclone is heading back towards the Top End after causing flash flooding and significant road damage across the Territory, with monsoonal downpours on the way.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the tropical low, which made landfall as a category one cyclone on Thursday night, was moving across the Barkly region on Tuesday morning and was expected to intensify over the Gregory and Tanami before moving towards the Kimberley in Western Australia later in the week.

The system is expected to track close to Tennant Creek on Wednesday morning.

A severe weather warning remained in place for the Barkly region, with six-hourly rainfall totals forecast between 70mm and 100mm, while as much as 200mm could fall in a 24-hour period.

Tennant Creek is expected to cop the brunt of ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie as it moves north towards the Top End. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said as a result of the heavy rainfall, a dozen remote communities had been isolated due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

“Authorities are working to provide support to those communities,” she said.

Ms Fyles said most residents were “generally well-stocked”.

She said there were drop off point trains could use to provide resources to communities if necessary.

“We’re hopeful that it will have resumption of service on Thursday,” she said.

“But if we don’t get that operational there are other measures that can be taken to ensure access to suppliers coming through to the Top End.”

Ms Fyles said the government would exercise “preventive evacuations” to assist “vulnerable” residents in flood-affected areas”.

“There is a lot of work being undertaken by our health teams to ensure that vulnerable people are getting the care that they need,” she said.

Bureau senior forecaster Sally Cutter said as the low moves northwest, it would bring with it monsoonal conditions.

Timber Creek experienced a “one-in-50-year” flooding event in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie. Picture: Timber Creek Hotel

“We’re also going to see the monsoon trough reinvigorate,” Ms Cutter said.

“And that’s going to see the weather pick up across the Top End.”

She said the Bureau was keeping a “very close eye” on the changing weather conditions.

She said the monsoonal trough would mean more rain and strong winds towards the west coast of the Territory.

“That will continue through to at least the end of the week,” she said.

Acting Police Commissioner and Territory Controller Murray Smallpage said authorities were “actively monitoring what’s going on right across the Territory”.

“It is unpredictable,” he said.

“It’s a big Territory … it’s very difficult for BoM or anyone else to predict where that might occur.”

On Tuesday, the Bureau said intense rainfall on the eastern side of the system could lead to life-threatening flash flooding, with six-hourly rainfall totals between 100mm and 160mm and as much as 250mm in 24 hours.

Damaging winds of up to 90km/h and thunderstorms could also hit the Barkly region.

A flood watch remained in place for a number of rivers and catchments in the northwestern, central and southern parts of the Territory.

Areas that may be hit include Tennant Creek, Elliott, Renner Springs, Cresswell Downs and the Barkly region both east and west of Tennant Creek.

A severe weather warning for the Simpson region has been cancelled.

In the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday, Alexandria Downs received 156mm of rain.

Timber Creek was cut off from the rest of the Territory when a “one-in-50-year” flooding event hit the tiny Victoria Hwy town. Picture: Supplied

A flood watch remains in place for a number of coastal and inland rivers and catchments across the Territory including Alpurrurulam, Ampilatwatja, Renner Springs, Avon Downs, Brunette Downs, Cresswell Downs and the Barkly, east of Tennant Creek.

The Bureau said significant flooding was also expected for Bonaparte coastal rivers and northwest coastal rivers.

On Christmas Day, Tennant Creek received 61mm of rain after 38mm fell on Christmas Eve.

Other parts of the Territory was drenched over the weekend with almost 200mm of rain falling in 24 hours in some areas.

A 74-year-old woman was rescued from floodwaters at Timber Creek after her car was washed off a bridge during flash flooding. Picture: Supplied

In the 24 hours to 9am on Christmas Day, Upper Townsend Creek copped 193mm of rain, while Townsend Creek received 185mm and 166mm of rain fell at Armstrong River.

On Sunday, the NT government declared an emergency situation after a “one-in-50-year” flooding event hit Timber Creek and isolated it from the rest of the Territory.

Parts of the Victoria Hwy were closed due to the flooding, cutting off access either side of the town as well as access to Western Australia.

The Victoria Hwy was open on Tuesday but authorities warned motorists to drive with care after the weather event caused damage to a bridge near Timber Creek, with water still remaining over the road.

The Stuart Hwy was reopened on Tuesday after closed south of Tennant Creek.

The Buchanan Hwy was closed between the Stuart Hwy and Buntine Hwy intersections and at the Dashwood Crossing.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said many Timber Creek residents were returning home over the weekend after they were forced to shelter on the town’s basketball court.

“The Territory government remains stood up to assist Territorians with flooding which is occurring across the Territory,” she said.

A 74-year-old woman was rescued from floodwaters and carried 200m to safety on Friday after her car was swept off a bridge.

In the 24 hours to 9am on Christmas Eve, the tiny town copped 241mm of rain, with 157mm falling in just six hours.

Originally published as A dozen remote communities isolated, railway out of action for 2 days as ex-cyclone sets in