Flood Watch Issued for Northern Territory and Queensland Inland 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This alert is no longer in effect.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.
A slow-moving tropical low is bringing significant rainfall and flooding risks to the Simpson Desert, Barkly, and surrounding regions, leading to road closures and community isolation.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Flood Watch
- Affected area
- 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 Northern Territory and Queensland.
Alert Details
The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Flood Watch (IDD20590) for parts of the Eastern, Central, and Western inland areas of the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland. This is the eighth flood watch issued for this event, categorized with a moderate severity level.
Affected Areas
The following catchments and regions are included in the watch area:
- Georgina River and Eyre Creek
- Finke River and Stephenson Creek
- Simpson Desert
- MacDonnell Ranges (eastern areas)
- Central Desert
- Tanami Desert (eastern areas)
- Barkly (southern areas)
A related Flood Watch is also current for parts of South Australia.
What You Should Do
Residents and travelers are advised to:
- Avoid driving, walking, swimming, or playing in floodwaters as they are dangerous.
- Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
- Obey all road closure signs and plan travel ahead to avoid flooded routes.
- Monitor local media and the ABC for updates.
- For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call 000 immediately.
Expected Conditions
A slow-moving tropical low situated over the far southeast of the Simpson District is drawing rich tropical moisture into the region. Significant rainfall has already been recorded, and further heavy falls are forecast, particularly over the Simpson Desert and parts of the Georgina and Eyre Creek. Because catchments are already wet, they are expected to respond quickly to additional precipitation. Localized flooding and overland inundation are occurring and are expected to become more extensive. Many roads are currently impacted, and some communities may face isolation. Conditions may also affect the welfare of livestock.
Timeline
The alert was issued at 12:27 PM ACST on Wednesday, 25 February 2026. Further flooding is expected over the next few days. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 1:30 PM ACST on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
Original source: BOM Official Notice ↗
Related Weather Warnings
All Weather Warnings →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this BoM weather warning.