Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Heavy Rainfall Issued for Barkly District, NT

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for heavy rainfall. This is a top-priority alert for the Barkly forecast district in the Northern Territory.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers parts of the Barkly district. Locations likely to be affected include Avon Downs and areas of the Barkly District situated east of Tennant Creek.

What You Should Do

The Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) advises residents to take the following precautions:

• Slow down and turn on vehicle headlights.
• Create sandbags using pillowcases or shopping bags filled with sand to protect doorways from flooding.
• Secure loose outdoor objects.
• Ensure the safety of pets and animals.
• Avoid staying in open areas when storms are threatening.
• If driving in heavy rain, pull over and park with hazard lights on until visibility improves.
• Do not drive into water of unknown depth or current.
• For emergency assistance during floods or storms, contact the NTES at 132 500.

Expected Conditions

A moist and unstable airmass interacting with a trough over the central Northern Territory is producing slow-moving thunderstorms. These storms are moving toward the northwest and are capable of producing heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours.

Timeline

The warning was issued at 5:44 pm on Monday, 16 February 2026. The severe weather conditions are expected to continue through the evening. The Bureau of Meteorology anticipates issuing the next update by 8:45 pm.