Katherine and its surrounding communities have been warned to expect potential flooding in the next few days as a monsoon trough brings heavy rain and storms to much of the Northern Territory's Top End.
Rainfall totals of up to 140mm have been recorded across the region in the past 24 hours, with the Bureau of Meteorology NT forecasting more to come.
Senior meteorologist Sally Cutter said the rainfalls, which were higher than usual for this point of the wet season, could cause flooding in coming days.
"We've got flood warnings for the Katherine River, with minor flooding at Nitmiluk Centre," she said.
"Potentially we could see some minor flooding at Katherine town overnight, tonight or into Friday."
There are also initial minor flood warnings in place for the Waterhouse and Daly rivers, while a flood watch is current across the North West, Bonaparte and Carpentaria districts.
Ms Cutter said the highest rainfall total in the past 24 hours had been in Timber Creek, where 140mm fell.
It comes only weeks after the remote town and nearby Indigenous communities experienced a once-in-50 year flooding event shortly before Christmas when ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie moved inland.
Ms Cutter said a number of nearby areas had also received more than 100mm in the past day, while around Katherine multiple locations had recorded between 50mm and 80mm.
"We should see these sorts of totals continuing over next two or three days," Ms Cutter said.
"It's not until we get into Monday next week that we're going to start to see those rainfall totals over the Top End ease."
Transport association flags concerns for remote communities
Andrew Swart from the Northern Territory Road Transport Association said the group was monitoring the situation for possible freight route impacts.
But he said although water levels were continuing to rise in the Katherine River, the town had suffered just one major flood in about 30 years.
"The Katherine bridge is at a pretty high level," he said.
Mr Swart said if the Stuart Highway flooded, it would probably be closed "for a day or two" so the impact would be manageable on Katherine residents.
He said the biggest problem was getting food and supplies out to remote communities.
"Just at the end of last week, a fuel transport company and freight companies were desperately trying to get into Epenarra and Canteen Creek, because they hadn't been able to get into there since Christmas time due to the cyclone," he said.
"There are a lot of places off the main routes that do struggle at this time of the year with these extra lows going across the territory."
Katherine Mayor Elisabeth Clark has previously called on the NT government to bring forward plans to build a second high-level bridge in the town.
The bridge is currently earmarked for development in 15 to 20 years' time.
Meanwhile, the NT government has constructed one flood levee along the eastern side of Katherine, which also forms a bike path.
Plans to build a second levee are due to be released this year.
