Final Flood Watch Issued for Central Desert, MacDonnell Ranges, and Surrounding Catchments
This alert is no longer in effect.
BOM issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Areazine synthesizes this BoM weather warning directly from BOM's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns that localized flooding may persist across the South Eastern Northern Territory and parts of Queensland as river levels gradually ease.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Flood Watch
- Affected area
- South Eastern Northern Territory and Queensland
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- BOM
Flood notices turn on location and timing. Treat the named area as this record's scope; do not assume nearby counties, parishes, or waterways were included.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in South Eastern Northern Territory and Queensland.
Alert Details
The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a final Flood Watch (IDD20590) for parts of the South Eastern inland areas of the Northern Territory and Queensland. This alert serves as early advice regarding possible flooding within specified catchments following significant rainfall recorded over the past week.
Affected Areas
The flood watch encompasses several key regions and river systems, including:
- Central Desert
- Finke River and Stephenson Creek
- Georgina River and Eyre Creek
- MacDonnell Ranges
- Simpson Desert
What You Should Do
Residents and travelers in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:
- Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater, as it is extremely dangerous.
- Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and other waterways.
- Obey all road closure signs and plan travel ahead to avoid flooded roads.
- Check current road conditions before attempting to travel, as many roads may remain affected, potentially isolating some communities.
- For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call 000 immediately.
- Monitor the ABC and local media for further updates.
Expected Conditions
While the risk of heavy rainfall has eased, showers remain possible across the watch area for the next few days. Catchments are currently wet, and while river and creek levels, localized flooding, and overland inundation are gradually easing, hazards remain. Significant rainfall recorded over the last week continues to impact the region.
Timeline
The alert was issued at 10:41 am ACST on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Localized flooding is expected to persist for the next few days. This is the final Flood Watch for this event, and no further watches are expected to be issued.
Original source: BOM Official Notice ↗
Related Weather Warnings
All Weather Warnings →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this BoM weather warning.