Town slammed by cyclone warned of dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding

A remote town hammered by ex-tropical cyclone Ellie has been issued another “dangerous and life-threatening” warning.

Already drenched parts of the Northern Territory are warned to brace for up to another 300mm of rain in 24 hours as ex-tropical cyclone Ellie wreaks havoc.

Extraordinary scenes have emerged from the region since the Category 1 system crossed the coast near Daly River.

Timber Creek, an isolated settlement between the Katherine and the WA border, copped an almost direct hit from the system.

On Friday into Christmas Eve, raging floodwaters saw several people requiring rescue, including a 74-year-old woman, reportedly swept from a bridge.

The town copped 241mm of rain in 24 hours – 157mm of that falling in a six-hour window.

Pictures and footage from recent days showed a service station – the Timber Creek Hotel – all but inundated by flash flooding.

Other images show waist-deep water ploughing through the small township.

The events forced the NT government to declare it an emergency.

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Timber Creek was hit by a "one-in-50-year" weather event. Picture: Supplied

Flash flooding ploughed through the township. Picture: Supplied

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the rare event caused flash flooding to Watch Creek in the Timber Creek area.

She said the floodwater dispersed as quickly as it rose but warned there was still “a lot of rain” on the way.

On Tuesday, however, the Bureau of Meteorology announced Timber Creek was again in the warning zone for a severe weather event with “intense rainfall” and “damaging winds”.

“Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie is currently located around 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek, The BOM said.

“The system is expected to remain slow-moving this morning before moving back towards the northwest during the latter parts of the day.

“Although the system is forecast to temporarily weaken today, heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activity are expected to continue.”

Timber Creek has been warned more rain is on the way. Picture: Supplied

Flooding at the Timber Creek Hotel.

Forecasters say the event, which is expected to impact much of the NT’s Barkly region, could see heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

“Six-hourly rainfall totals between 70 to 100mm with 24-hourly totals up to 150mm are likely,” BOM said.

“Locally intense rainfall, which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, is also possible over areas north of Ampilatwatja with six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 160mm.

“Twenty-four-hourly rainfall totals up to 300mm are possible in parts of this area, most likely around Alroy Downs, Barkly and Epenarra.”

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

The Bureau also expects damaging winds up to 90km/h and thunderstorms in parts.

Chief Minister Fyles said many sheltering Timber Creek residents had returned home, but the Government remained at the ready for the new wave of severe weather.

Northern Territory’s road has also been seriously impacted by the rainfall at the time of reporting, with closures and impasses littering the Territory.