Heavy rainfall over Darwin and West Arnhem Land

Darwin has received the most rainfall across the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours, with more than 85mm falling to 9am Wednesday

Darwin received more than 150mm of rain in 48 hours as the monsoon continues across the Top End.

Darwin has received the most rainfall across the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours, with more than 85mm falling to 9am Wednesday.

It follows 76mm in Darwin in the 24 hours prior, making for more than 150mm of rainfall in 48 hours.

MORE STORIES

ALLEGED machete fight, stabbing, puts three in hospital after overnight violence

MLA Gerry Wood plants new milkwood in place of 100 year old tree cut down for CDU

AFTER months of anticipation, eScooters become a reality for Darwin’s streetscape

In the past 24 hours, Croker Island Airport, north of West Arnhem Land’s Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, received 70.8mm while the neighbouring McCluer Island had a downpour of 62.4mm.

Rains were expected to fall from the Top End to as far south as Tennant Creek, which received a sprinkling of just 1.4mm.

Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association president Ashley Manicaros said while the rain across the Barkly was welcome relief, the industry would need to meet it’s annual target to recover from a long dry season.

“This would be a first good round of what we call rain growth events which means there is this type of rain event that then leads to pasture growth,” he said.

“That is absolutely critical at this point, that is really something that we need.

“On average (the Barkly) gets around 600mm of rain and we’ll need that type of rain again for it to rebound. We’ve had our first good burst of rain, we need it to continue.”

But Mr Manicaros said systems weren’t yet in place to ensure rainfall was properly captured and used throughout the industry.

“Surface water is absolutely critical to our industry and so is the storage of water,” he said.

“What we don’t have at the moment is an aggressive plan for water storage or water infrastructure.”

NT NEWS special half price subscription deal: Just $3.50 a week*

Darwin’s Channel Point received 62.0mm.