Katherine is anxiously waiting to see if the town will flood for the second time this month, as ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle moves out of the Northern Territory.
NT authorities are providing an update on ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle.
Yesterday, 2:33amMon 23 Mar 2026 at 2:33am
Thanks for following along, stay safe!
We’ll wrap up our live coverage there, thank you for following along.
As NT Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Warton says, you should check “the national broadcaster, ABC, the Bureau of Meteorology website, and of course Secure NT” for the latest news.
He says, no matter where you are in the NT, please “just stay vigilant”.
“There are a large number of risks right around the Northern Territory at the moment and I urge you to look after each other and to collectively stay safe,” he says.
Yesterday, 2:28amMon 23 Mar 2026 at 2:28am
Katherine not expected to reach major flood level
Jude Scott from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says water at Katherine Bridge is sitting at around 13.8 metres, which is below the minor flood level.
“We may reach the minor flood levels later today, but we are no longer expecting to reach the major flood level for Katherine town,” she says.
“In terms of what to expect from the weather, from today we’re back to more typical wet season conditions with a chance of showers and storms across the Top End.”
She says a severe weather warning and coastal hazard warning will remain in place amid damaging surf conditions, including around Darwin and southern parts of the Tiwi Islands.
Yesterday, 2:20amMon 23 Mar 2026 at 2:20am
Katherine schools starting to re-open
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says “a majority of schools in Katherine will re-open tomorrow”.
“I just urge all parents to keep onto that Secure NT website, all of the information will come to light later this afternoon,” she says.
“But most schools will reopen, as will the public service — we will be able to send people back to government offices from tomorrow.”
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Now a tropical low, the weather system passed just north of Katherine on Sunday night — its impact on the already saturated Top End town will be determined today.
The height of the Katherine River at the bridge measured nearly 14 metres on Monday morning.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
The Bureau of Metereology (BOM) said river levels at Katherine Bridge could exceed the minor flood level of 16 metres this morning, with the potential of rising to the major flood level of 17.5 metres on Tuesday.
Scores of homes and businesses were inundated by flooding earlier this month, with several remote communities and surrounding rural areas also impacted.
An estimated 10,000 sandbags have been distributed around Katherine in an attempt to ward off floodwater, while the NT government has requested more support from the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Katherine Hospital has again been evacuated and closed, with the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre setting up a field hospital in Katherine East.
What is the latest weather advice?
The deep tropical low, which is approaching Western Australia today, is the seventh high-risk weather event this wet season.
On Monday morning, BOM said part of Adelaide River had reached the major flood level as a result of overnight rains.
Around 10,000 sandbags have been distributed across the community.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
Businesses are hoping sandbags will prove effective.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
The bureau said flooding there was “likely to peak near 12.70m” on Monday morning.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said flooding at Adelaide River had impacted about four homes, with power outages and an active boil water alert in place.
The Stuart Highway was cut by floodwater north of Adelaide River, but Mrs Finocchiaro reassured Territorians “there are plenty of supplies and stores, both south of Katherine and north, obviously here in Darwin”.
“It’s cut off right now and we’re hoping that [flooding] recedes quickly, but it really just depends what weather we’ve got coming down and through the system,” she said.
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Meanwhile in Katherine, the river could see major flooding again this week, and a number of sodden communities surrounding the town are also expecting waters to rise again.
In the nearby community of Beswick, the BOM said major flooding could develop from late Monday morning.
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At the Daly River, major flooding continues to submerge the evacuated community of Nauiyu.
The chief minister has urged residents in Darwin’s rural area to be on alert for flash flooding related to the shifting low pressure system.
That includes near Darwin River Dam, where pumping infrastructure was flooded earlier this month and took Darwin’s main water supply offline.
Residents still mopping up after initial flood
Tara and Sarah Whitchelo live in Katherine’s north, which flooded earlier this month.
The couple and their eight-month-old baby boy Luca were visiting family in Darwin when the flood hit.
Katherine is still recovering from floods a fortnight ago.(Facebook: Ryan Hohn/Bureau of Meteorology)
The bottom level of their house was inundated.
“We lost a fair bit of stuff but all of it is replaceable,” Sarah said.
“But there was a lot of mud down there and it stunk.”
The couple have not finished mopping up from the first flood.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
Sarah and Tara Whitcehlo have moved into a hotel room as more floods threaten Katherine.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
The pair were still mopping up from the first disaster when they began preparations for a possible second flood event this week.
“It’s been a lot,” Sarah said.
“We were still doing the clean-up from the last flood while also trying to prepare for this one.”
Many residents are still cleaning up from the earlier flood.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
After sandbagging their home and moving belongings upstairs, they made the decision to stay at a hotel for a few days to see out the worst of the weather.
“This time round we decided, with an eight-week-old, [we] didn’t want to risk being out of power and flooded and isolated,” Tara said.
The young family are packed into a hotel room with their dog, Jet, and a friend’s dog, Theo.
Houses were completely inundated by water during the initial flood.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
Having just experienced Katherine’s worst flood in decades, the couple are watching the river levels closely.
Speaking on Sunday, Sarah said they were apprehensive to see what ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle delivered overnight.
“It feels really eerie at the moment in town,” she said.
“It’s quiet but also people are rushing around almost panicking now.”
Cars were lining up for sandbags in Katherine over the weekend.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
Despite managing being first-time parents and consecutive natural disasters, the couple said the local community had made them feel supported.
“At least this second time around we knew more what to expect,” Tara said.
“Let’s just prepare for the worst, hope for the best.”Bush communities prepare to be isolated
While residents in Katherine prepare their homes and businesses, many people from surrounding communities have also been stocking up on supplies after the earlier floods cut-off road access.
Dawn Keighran picked up a trolley’s worth of food on Sunday.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
Marleen Lee and her family travelled to Katherine from Manyallaluk, a community east of Katherine, to get extra groceries and essentials in case roads became impassable again.
“It was pretty bad last time, we weren’t prepared, didn’t have a enough food,” Ms Lee said.
Christello Birdum was staying at the community of Rockhole outside Katherine two weeks ago when the town became isolated.
“I’m a bit worried, had to stock up,” he said.
Adrian Hector and Christello Birdum (right) have stocked up on essentials.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
Dawn Keighran, from the community of Borroloola more than 600km east of Katherine, has been in town since Christmas after consecutive weather events across the Top End.
“I come here then got caught up here with all this rain, couldn’t get back home,” Mr Keighran said.
Dawn Keighran has been staying in Katherine since Christmas.(ABC News: Dane Hirst)
Mr Keighran said this year’s wet season has been unlike anything he’s experienced before.
“Never seen anything like this,” he said.
“In the old days the rain used to start in February and knock off in March but look now, it just keeps going, on and on,” he said.What assistance is available?
Personal hardship payments have been activated for people impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle.
Eligible residents in the following areas will be able to access Personal Hardship Payments:
Greater Darwin Unincorporated AreaCox-Daly Unincorporated AreaMarrakai-Douglas Daly Unincorporated AreaEast Arnhem Regional CouncilGroote Archipelago Regional CouncilKatherine Town CouncilRoper Gulf Regional CouncilVictoria Daly Regional Council
The payments include:
Immediate relief payments of up to $611 per adult and $309 per child, capped at $1,537 per family, to assist people experiencing personal hardship. These payments are not means-tested and provide immediate support.Emergency accommodation assistance of up to $1,160 per family, providing means-tested support for short-term accommodation.Support for essential household items of up to $8,843 per household, providing means-tested assistance to repair or replace essential household items damaged by flooding.
The support is being provided by the federal and NT governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.