Police, NT Emergency Services and Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport (NRETAS) continue to work closely with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to monitor a cloud band that has formed across the southwest of the Territory.

Regional Controller Region 3 Commander Michael Murphy said the cloud band was predicted to strengthen later today.

“We experienced localised heavy falls overnight, including up to 45 mms of rain in the Todd River Catchment,” Commander Murphy said.

“The catchment area around Trephina Gorge received 70 mms of rain last night in a short period of time causing the Trephina Creek to rise 1.5 metres within one hour which demonstrates the speed at which the water courses can rise and the danger this presents.

“The ground is already affected by rainfall and with the wet weather to continue and predicted to increase in intensity this evening, tomorrow and on Friday, I expect we will be experiencing more localised flash flooding.

“I again urge people to avoid swimming in flooded rivers and drains, to avoid camping in riverbeds and not to attempt driving through flooded causeways. Water can rise and fall faster than people think and can also travel at deceptively high speeds.

“If heavy rainfall over the catchment area is experienced tonight, it is likely that the Todd River will flow. A lot of river systems are already flowing in the Southern Region.

“For further information, please visit www.securent.nt.gov.au/ or www.bom.gov.au/nt/ .

“If you wish to travel or use the roads, especially in remote areas, I also urge you to visit www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/roadreport/ to determine which is the safest route to take.”

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