Flood Watch Issued for Kimberley and Sturt Creek Districts as Tropical Low Approaches

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Flood Watch (IDW39605) for several catchments in Western Australia. This watch provides early advice of possible flooding due to a tropical low currently situated over the Northern Territory that is forecast to drift toward the region.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the following geographic regions and catchments:

• Fitzroy River (A minor flood warning is currently active for the lower catchment)
• North Kimberley Rivers
• East Kimberley Rivers
• Sturt Creek District

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the warning areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater, as it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan ahead to avoid driving on flooded roads.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for updates as the situation can change quickly.
• For local emergency management warnings, visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au.
• For emergency assistance, call the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

A tropical low is expected to bring widespread rainfall, including locally heavy falls, across the northern and eastern Kimberley and parts of the Sturt Creek District. Because catchments in the Flood Watch area are already wet, they are likely to respond quickly to additional rainfall. Expected impacts include:

• River and creek level rises.
• Prolonged overland flooding and ponding.
• Potential disruptions to road access.
• Possible isolation of some communities and homesteads.

Timeline

The Flood Watch was issued at 12:08 pm AWST on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Flooding is considered possible across the watch area starting Friday, March 13, and continuing into Saturday. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 1:00 pm AWST on Friday, March 13, 2026.