Minor Flood Warning Issued for Katherine River, Nitmiluk Centre, and Katherine Town

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued Minor Flood Warning Number 40 (IDD20555) for the Katherine River. The alert was issued at 10:22 am ACST on Thursday, March 19, 2026, and is currently classified as a high-severity major warning group event.

Affected Areas

The warning covers several key locations along the Katherine River system in the Northern Territory, including:

• Katherine River Gorge Road
• Katherine River at Nitmiluk Centre
• Katherine Town and Katherine Bridge
• Katherine River near Birdie Creek
• Seventeen Mile Creek at Waterfall View

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected areas 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 as the situation can change quickly.
• 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

Minor flooding is currently occurring at Nitmiluk Centre, where the river level was recorded at 3.60 meters at 10:11 am Thursday. While the level is currently falling, it is expected to remain above the minor flood level of 3.00 meters through Friday.

At Katherine Bridge, the river was measured at 12.23 meters and rising as of Thursday morning, which remains below the minor flood level of 16.00 meters. However, forecast rain starting late Saturday is expected to cause rapid river rises, with the potential for significant flooding beginning Sunday.

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately following its issue on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Minor flooding at Nitmiluk Centre is expected to persist into Friday. A potential escalation to significant flooding is forecast for Sunday, March 22, following heavy rain. The Bureau of Meteorology intends to issue the next update by 10:30 am ACST on Friday, March 20, 2026.