Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Darwin, Litchfield, and Palmerston: Heavy Rainfall and Flash Flooding Possible

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for heavy rainfall affecting Darwin City and Outer Darwin. This is a top-priority broadcast issued at 5:54 am ACST on Saturday, 21 March 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning covers residents in Darwin and parts of the Litchfield and Palmerston areas, including the Cox Peninsula. Specific locations identified in the storm’s path include:

• Robertson Barracks
• Northern Suburbs
• Berrimah
• Darwin Airport
• Lee Point

What You Should Do

The Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) advises residents to take the following immediate actions:

• Drive with caution: Slow down and turn your headlights on.
• Flood protection: Create your own sandbags if there is flooding by using pillowcases or shopping bags filled with sand, placing them around doorways to protect your home.
• Safety: Ensure pets and animals are safe and avoid remaining in the open when storms threaten.
• Low visibility: Pull over if it is raining heavily and you cannot see; park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears.
• Flood waters: Avoid driving into water of unknown depth and current.
• Emergency Help: For emergency assistance in floods, storms, and cyclones, contact the NTES on 132 500.

Expected Conditions

A severe thunderstorm likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding was detected near Robertson Barracks at 5:55 am. The storm is moving toward the north, bringing heavy rainfall over Darwin with isolated thunderstorms.

Timeline

The storm is forecast to affect the Northern Suburbs, Berrimah, and Darwin Airport by 6:25 am, and Lee Point by 6:55 am. This warning is effective immediately, with the next update scheduled to be issued by 6:55 am. A more general severe thunderstorm warning is also current for parts of the Daly district.