Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in parts of Daly, Arnhem, Carpentaria and Gregory districts.

Issued at 10:41 am Saturday, 21 March 2026.

LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS DEVELOPING OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN TOP END FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

Weather Situation: Tropical Cyclone Narelle is located over the central Gulf of Carpentaria and is expected to continue moving steadily westwards over the next few days. The system is expected to make landfall over the eastern Top End coast overnight Saturday into early Sunday morning before continuing over land across the central Top End while transitioning to a deep tropical low.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for the central Top End, including Katherine, from early Sunday afternoon, before shifting more into the Daly district from late Sunday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 120 mm are likely. 24-hourly rainfall totals between 180 to 230 mm are likely.

Locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is also possible north of Katherine from Sunday afternoon with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 180 mm. 24-hourly rainfall totals of around 350 mm are possible.

Localised DAMAGING WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are possible in the warning area during Sunday afternoon and evening, particularly in the Carpentaria and Arnhem districts.

A Tropical Cyclone Advice is also current for this system. Flood Watches and Warnings are also current for the area. Please refer to https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts/ for more information.

Locations which may be affected include Katherine, Jabiru, Maningrida, Nauiyu, Batchelor, Adelaide River, Milingimbi, Mataranka, Pine Creek, Cooinda, Larrimah and Barunga.

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