Warnings issued as moderate flooding expected in the Top End, Daly River residents asked to prepare

UPDATE: Extra police and emergency services boats have been dispatched to Daly River as residents in the area prepare for a possible flood event

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UPDATE: EXTRA police and emergency services boats have been dispatched to Daly River as residents in the area prepare for a possible flood event.

The Bureau of Meteorology expect the river to reach moderate flood levels on Thursday night before levelling out over the following days.

However it is not expected to reach major flood levels, with current forecasting indicating the river may reach a peak between 13.6 and 13.8 metres.

Rising water levels at the Banyan Causeway, Daly River. Picture: Paula Egan

Incident Controller Commander Janelle Tonkin said police have not yet issued an evacuation order but may need to do so if the flood levels hit 14 metres.

“The community is experienced with flood preparation and know what to do if needed,” she said.

“There is no request or requirement for residents to leave the community at this time.

“That said, planning is well under way if the situation changes and the predicted river height passes that threshold.”

“In the event an evacuation is required, residents will be bussed into Darwin where they will be accommodated in an evacuation centre at Foskey’s Pavilion at the Darwin Showgrounds.”

NT Police have sent additional staff to assist in community preparations and Northern Territory Emergency Service has sent three additional boats to the community in case they are required to help move people in low-lying areas.

In 2014 the Daly River reached 13.7m and the community was not evacuated.

At that height, minor flooding occurs in some houses, however the affected residents can be accommodated either with friends or at the local school.

⚠️Initial #Flood Warning has been issued for the #DalyRiver, expected to exceed the minor flood level from Wednesday night and likely reach the moderate flood level from Friday evening. See https://t.co/JSFcSEf0Cm for details and updates; follow advice from @ntpfes. #NTfloodspic.twitter.com/oBPVjdfUej

— Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory (@BOM_NT) February 22, 2021

EARLIER:

BOM duty forecaster Billy Lynch said the area has seen 150-200 of rain in the past 24 hours.

“Current predictions are it will reach moderate flood level by Friday night,” Mr Lynch said.

“There’s still potential for heavy falls through the region over the next day or two,” he said.

“Conditions have eased off at the moment but we are expecting shower and storms in the top end (today).”

He said the risk of heavy falls will diminish by Friday.

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A ‘minor flood warning’ is still in place for the Katherine River.

The BOM also warned that further east, the Waterhouse River has a small catchment area, which means the river responds very quickly to rainfall in the area.

Renewed rises have prompted a ‘major flood warning’ at Beswick Bridge, with water levels likely to stay around 8.30 metres overnight.

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Recent heavy rain

A number of locations in the Darwin-Daly and Roper-McArthur River districts topped 200mm of rain in the past week.

In the 24 hours to 9am this morning, the Daly River region’s Maud Creek received 171mm of rain, while Foelsche Headland received just over 80mm in about 5 hours today.

In the 7 days to 9am Tuesday, the below rainfall totals have been recorded:

182mm at Darwin River Dam

145mm at Majestic Orchids

141mm at Howard River

319mm at Ironwood Station

309mm at Nitmiluk Rangers (including 97mm in the 24 hours to 9am this morning)

307mm at Upper 17 Mile Creek (including 90.8mm in the 24 hours to 9am this morning)

146mm at Ngayawili (including 84.2mm in the 24 hours to 9am this morning)

131mm at Jabiru Airport

102mm at Milingimbi Airport

371mm at Centre Island

283mm at Cave Creek

249mm at West Waterhouse

225mm at Victoria River Crossing

224mm at Bradshaw

199mm at Coolibah

5mm at Alexandria Downs

1mm at Alice Springs Airport

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