Flood Watch Issued for Sturt Creek, Tanami Desert, and Western Desert Regions

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued Flood Watch Number 7 for the eastern parts of the Interior. This alert serves as early advice for possible flooding within specified catchments across Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Affected Areas

According to the latest update, the following catchments are likely to be affected:

• Sturt Creek District
• Western Desert
• Tanami Desert

Note: Flooding is no longer expected in the Warburton District and Sandy Desert catchments.

What You Should Do

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

• Stay Safe: Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater. Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Travel Safety: Obey all road closure signs. Plan ahead to ensure you do not drive on flooded roads.
• Stay Informed: Monitor the ABC and local media for updates. The situation can change quickly.
• Emergency Contacts: For emergency assistance, call the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately. Local emergency advice can be found at www.emergency.wa.gov.au.

Expected Conditions

A trough of low pressure over the southern Northern Territory has generated widespread moderate to heavy rainfall across eastern parts of the Interior. While the trough has moved further east, isolated showers and thunderstorms remain possible over the next few days.

Because catchments in the Flood Watch area are already wet, they are likely to respond quickly to any additional rainfall. Expected impacts include:

• River and creek level rises.
• Prolonged overland flooding and ponding.
• Affected road access and the potential isolation of some communities and homesteads.

Timeline

This Flood Watch was issued at 12:02 pm AWST on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 1:00 pm AWST on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.