Flood Watch Issued for Top End and East Kimberley as Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle Approaches

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued an initial Flood Watch for parts of the Top End and East Kimberley. This alert serves as early advice for possible flooding within specified catchments as a tropical cyclone approaches the region.

Affected Areas

The following catchments are likely to be affected:

• Northern Territory: Adelaide River (Upper and below Town), Blyth River, Buckingham River, Daly River (above Douglas River and Lower Daly), East Alligator River, Finniss River, Fitzmaurice River, Goomadeer River, Goyder River, Katherine River, Koolatong River, Liverpool River, Mary River, Moyle River, Roper River, South Alligator River, Tiwi Islands, Victoria River (below Kalkarindji), Walker River, Waterhouse River, and Wildman River.
• Western Australia: East Kimberley Rivers.

Specific flood warnings are already current for the Katherine and Waterhouse rivers (Minor) and the Lower Daly River (Major).

What You Should Do

Residents in the watch area are advised to take the following safety precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel to avoid flooded routes.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for updates.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.
• Visit www.securent.nt.gov.au for local emergency management advice.

Expected Conditions

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is currently located in the northern Coral Sea and is forecast to cross the Queensland coast Friday morning. The system is expected to move west across the Gulf of Carpentaria and impact the Northern Territory over the weekend. The cyclone is forecast to bring widespread heavy to locally intense rainfall. Because catchments across the Top End are already wet to saturated, rivers and creeks are expected to respond rapidly to the additional rainfall.

Timeline

The Flood Watch was issued at 12:10 pm ACST on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Potential significant flooding is expected to begin from late Saturday. The Bureau of Meteorology will refine this watch as the cyclone’s track becomes more certain, with the next scheduled update by 1:00 pm ACST on Friday, March 20, 2026.