Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Simpson and parts of Barkly, Lasseter and Tanami districts.

Issued at 3:40 pm Friday, 21 January 2022.
WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL DEVELOPING ACROSS CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

Weather Situation: Humid, tropical air has been brought into central Australia and a trough lies across the Simpson District, resulting in thunderstorms that may produce heavy rainfall.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING may develop during Saturday, with widespread rainfall totals of 30-50 mm. Isolated heavier falls of 70 mm possible with thunderstorms.

Locations which may be affected include Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Arltunga, Ti Tree, Jervois, Kulgera, Papunya, Barrow Creek, Hermannsburg, Curtin Springs, Finke and Watarrka.

The Northern Territory Emergency Service advises that people should:
* secure loose outside objects and seek shelter when conditions deteriorate
* pull over if it is raining heavily and you cannot see, park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears
* avoid driving into water of unknown depth and current
* create your own sandbags if there is flooding, by using pillow cases or shopping bags filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home
* stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways
* ensure pets and animals are safe
* be prepared in case of power outages, have an emergency kit with a radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit
* for emergency help in floods, storms and cyclones, contact the NTES on 132 500. For more safety tips visit www.securent.nt.gov.au