Flood Watch Issued for North and North-West South Australia Catchments

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued Flood Watch Number 3 for parts of North and North-West South Australia. This alert provides early advice of possible flooding within specified catchments due to an approaching weather system.

Affected Areas

The following catchments are likely to be affected:

• Warburton River
• Cooper Creek
• Lake Eyre
• Finke River and Stephenson Creek
• Simpson Desert
• Eastern Great Victoria Desert
• Warburton District Rivers

Flood warnings are currently in effect for the Warburton and Cooper catchments due to floodwaters arriving from Queensland.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected areas should take the following precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and other waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and check road conditions before traveling, as some communities and homesteads may become isolated.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for updates.
• For emergency assistance, call the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

A tropical low situated in northern Western Australia is feeding rich tropical moisture along a surface trough, combined with an upper trough moving through southern Western Australia. This system brings a risk of heavy rainfall to northwestern parts of South Australia. Because catchments in the area are already moderately wet, they are expected to respond quickly to the new rainfall. Expected impacts include river and creek level rises, prolonged overland flooding, and ponding.

Timeline

The risk of heavy rainfall begins in northwestern parts of the state late Sunday evening, March 15, 2026. The heavy rain is expected to move slowly eastwards on Monday, March 16. The next flood watch update is scheduled to be issued by 12:00 PM ACDT on Monday.