Top End’s ‘classic’ monsoon season leads to multiple Bureau of Meteorology warnings
Wet and wild weather has seen storm-watchers drenched, holes gushing, and some serious wave-shredding. See the pictures and videos.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Gusty winds and wild waves drenching storm-watchers are all part of the Territory’s typical Wet Season weather.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Juliet Barsden said the Top End was currently faced with a “pretty classic” monsoon.
The meteorologist said the windy conditions played an integral role in driving the ocean up and over the railings of popular seaside platforms such as the Nightcliff Jetty.
Ms Barsden said there were strong wind warnings in place across the NT coastline, including the Beagle Bonaparte Coast, North Tiwi Coast, Van Diemen Gulf, Arafura Coast, Gove Peninsula Coast, Roper Groote Coast and Darwin Harbour.
The monsoonal weather has also renewed the Territory’s interest in a Fannie Bay hole known for squirting water well above the tree line.
Fannie Bay resident Eva Fortiades said she first noticed the geyser a few years ago while sitting on the balcony.
“A big storm came and I saw it,” she said.
“It was amazing, it just shot up higher than the palm trees.”
Ms Barsden said the Top End is set to be inundated over the coming days, with the Bureau predicting up to 150mm of rain in some areas.
According to the Bureau’s rain forecast, Darwin could record up to 100mm on Tuesday and up to 50mm on Wednesday and Thursday.
Katherine is forecast to receive up to 50mm of rain on Tuesday and up to 100mm on Wednesday and Thursday.
The areas surrounding Timber Creek could see up to 150mm on Wednesday and Thursday.
Ms Barsden said the deluge was just one result of the monsoonal season, and the Bureau had issued several related weather warnings across the NT.
Minor flood warnings and an initial flood warning are in place for the Adelaide River and Daly River regions respectively.
The Victoria River region has a current flood warning out, and the North Western NT is on flood watch.
A severe weather warning is current for Daly, Tiwi, Arnhem, Gregory and parts of Carpentaria and Barkly districts.
Meanwhile, the Lasseter region has been warned of a heatwave.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler said it was important for Territorians to have cyclone and emergency kits at the ready in light of the extensive warnings.
“Have you got your important papers in there, what have you got, your medications, those sorts of things,” she said.
“I think the people that are in that Kalkarindji area, when they experienced flooding last year, they would be very much aware of what they need to do, and being very heightened around that.”
Originally published as Top End’s ‘classic’ monsoon season leads to multiple Bureau of Meteorology warnings
Join the conversation
Mental health flags for woman who allegedly stabbed three people on bus
A young woman who allegedly stabbed three people with scissors amid a mental health crisis could be locked up in the hospital, rather than a prison cell, amid urgent local court battle.
Read more
Serious fire which threatened Alice Springs suburb ‘under investigation’
Authorities say a grass fire which threatened residents and homes in an Alice Springs suburb is now ‘under investigation’. Read the latest.
Read more