Major Flood Warning Issued for Waterhouse River at Beswick Bridge, Northern Territory

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Major Flood Warning (IDD20565) for the Waterhouse River and a Flood Warning for the Roper River. This is the 22nd warning issued for this event, as of 3:09 pm ACST on Wednesday, 11 March 2026. Major flooding is considered possible due to renewed river rises following previous peaks earlier in the week.

Affected Areas

The primary areas of concern include:

• Waterhouse River: Specifically at Beswick Bridge and Diljin Hill.
• Roper River: Catchment areas below Elsey Creek.
• Top End Region: A general Flood Watch remains current for parts of the Top End.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected regions are advised to take the following precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater. It is dangerous and conditions can change rapidly.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel routes to avoid flooded roads.
• Stay informed: Monitor the ABC and local media for updates. For local emergency management warnings, visit www.securent.nt.gov.au.
• Emergency Assistance: For SES assistance, call 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

Following a peak on Tuesday morning, the Waterhouse River at Beswick Bridge is seeing renewed rises. As of 2:45 pm Wednesday, the river level at Beswick Bridge was recorded at 8.23 meters and steady, representing moderate flooding. However, it is forecast to reach the major flood level of 8.70 meters overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Further rainfall forecast over the coming days may lead to additional river rises. At Diljin Hill, the river was recorded at 5.66 meters and falling as of Wednesday afternoon.

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately, with major flooding expected to manifest overnight Wednesday, 11 March, into Thursday, 12 March 2026. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 9:00 pm ACST on Wednesday evening.