A flood watch has followed the anticipated arrival of the NT’s second monsoon for 2025

The Top End could be on track for only its second monsoon this Wet Season. Read what’s tipped and see our exclusive video.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood warning for parts of the Northern Territory, with residents urged to stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways.

The warning followed a 71.6mm downpour recorded at Warruwi in the hour to 10.29am on Saturday, and after the Bureau cancelled an earlier thunderstorm alert it had issued for the Carpentaria district.

The warning comes as Sky News weather presenter Mikolina Kharoufeh advised a monsoon was developing over Darwin this weekend.

The Bureau issued a fresh forecast at 10.30am Saturday, advising that flooding was possible in parts of the Barkly, including the Georgina River, Eyre Creek and the Simpson Desert catchments.

March 2024 flooding affected the Tanamai Desert, Western Barkly and Central Desert areas.

“Tropical moisture from The Gulf of Carpentaria is combining with a mid-level low over the western Barkly to produce slow-moving thunderstorms with heavy rainfall,” the warning said.

“Showers and storms along parts of the Arnhem coast are also capable of producing heavy rainfall.

“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Elliott.”

Describing catchments in the flood watch area as “relatively dry”, the Bureau said they are expected to be hit with more than 100mm of rainfall in coming days.

Road trains stranded on the Barkly Highway in a previous flooding event.

The Bureau said daily rainfall totals of between 40-80mm were possible between Saturday and Monday, with isolated falls of more than 100mm forecast across the flood watch area.

“Some roads, and possibly primary and secondary highways may be affected with accumulated rainfall over the next few days,” the BOM said.

“Some communities and homesteads may become isolated. Check road conditions before travelling, don’t drive into floodwaters and prepare for flooding and only move while safe to do so.”

The next flood watch will be updated at 11am on Sunday, March 23.

Meanwhile, Sky News has forecast the arrival of Darwin’s second monsoon for the Wet Season and the first since February 7, which is the latest the Northern Territory monsoon has ever been recorded.

Weather presenter Mikolina Kharoufeh said conditions were rife for the monsoon to activate.

“It is getting into a more westerly flow up in the north and that means that the monsoon, the second one of the season, should be developing over the coming 24 hours or so,” she said.

Originally published as A flood watch has followed the anticipated arrival of the NT’s second monsoon for 2025