Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in parts of Arnhem district.

Issued at 3:46 pm Friday, 24 December 2021.
STRENGTHENING MONSOON ACROSS THE NORTHERN TOP END

Weather Situation: The monsoon will strengthen across the northern Top End during Saturday as a tropical low deepens near the Tiwi Islands. The monsoon trough will be located near the north coast during Saturday, then move inland from the coast by Saturday night.
The tropical low is expected to strengthen as it moves southwards, close to the Tiwi Islands during Saturday and may reach tropical cyclone intensity west of Darwin on Sunday - a Tropical Cyclone Advice is current for this system, which describes the impacts in these areas.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is expected to develop tonight and during Saturday across the northern Arnhem District. 24 hour rainfall totals of 100-200 mm are possible.

DAMAGING WINDS with gusts of up to 100 km/h with monsoonal squalls may develop about the coast from Saturday evening.

These conditions may persist or even increase during Sunday.
A Flood Watch is also current for parts of the Top End.
For more information on weather warnings in the Northern Territory refer to http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/warnings/.

Locations which may be affected include Maningrida, Milingimbi, Ramingining, Galiwinku, Warruwi, Gunbalanya, Murganella and Minjilang.

Rainfall observed since 9am Friday:
63 mm at Milingimbi.

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