The threat of former Tropical Cyclone Ellie is officially over, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
But the destructive weather event has highlighted the ongoing challenges facing the Northern Territory's remote communities, including access to essential services and a lack of infrastructure.
The system first hit the NT as a category one cyclone on December 22, before bringing major flooding to areas across the Top End — especially the remote township of Timber Creek — before moving to the Kimberley and then Central Australia.
Sally Cutter, a senior meteorologist at the BOM, said the former cyclone — which crossed back into the Northern Territory from Western Australia last weekend — was now "non-existent" after weakening out over the Tanami.
However, she said more rainfall was expected across the territory over the weekend.
"Across the Top End we will see more rain ... around about the Tennant Creek, Elliott area, there's a chance of seeing some showers and storms through there," she said.
"The showers and storms will start becoming less frequent down through the southern parts.
"The focus [of the rain] is now shifting back into the northern half of the territory ... the Gregory districts and the Carpentaria districts are probably the two main areas."
She said the Central Australia and Timber Creek regions — which were still recovering from recent flooding — should also expect some rain, although not as much as in recent weeks.
"Around the Central Australian area we will see potentially some isolated showers and storms but they're not going to be very frequent
"Up around that Timber Creek area, we will see showers and storms but we're not expecting anything like we saw when the ex-cyclone moved over that area."
Medical emergency in cut-off community
The community of Ampilatwatja — about 350 kilometres north-east of Alice springs and home to about 500 people — was cut off by both road and air for 10 days due to flooding brought by the former cyclone.
Christine May, clinic manager at the local health centre, said one patient suffered a medical emergency but was able to be transported to Utopia, about 100 kilometres south of Ampilatwatja, where there is a sealed air strip.
"Because we do not have a sealed air strip, there was no way we could get anybody in or out," she said.
She said access to emergency medical services was an ongoing issue in remote communities, particularly during flooding events.
"It's one of the biggest problems with living remotely," she said.
"People come out here to live because it's their country...but when they need services, they're very poorly served out here."
Ms May said the heavy downpour was unlike anything she'd ever seen before in Ampilatwatja.
"I was very surprised," she said.
"We had an hour where it was just like somebody had turned the tap on and it really flooded down."
Two communities remain isolated as floodwaters recede
Jeff MacLeod, chief executive of MacDonnell Regional Council, said only two out of 13 communities in the region remained isolated: Haasts Bluff and Mt Liebig.
He said both communities received supplies via air yesterday, after hot weather dried out their dirt air strips.
He said the road from Papunya to Kintore was only open to light vehicles, not large trucks, meaning some food drops were occurring via four-wheel drive.
"It's fairly normal at this time of the year for us to get storms and for the roads to close," Mr MacLeod said.
He said the isolated communities were faring well and had plenty of food.
"The stores always do traditionally stock up as well in late November and December, when we get storm impacts," he said.
"They make sure they have a good stockpile of cans and things like that."
The NT's Police Fire and Emergency Services said in a statement that it had downgraded its emergency response to flooding in Central Australia.
"For the most up-to-date information on remote community access we urge the public to visit Road Report NT, as the warm weather is quickly drying out previously flooded access roads," the statement read.
"All communities affected by the weather event maintained adequate supplies and the Northern Territory Emergency Service would urge everyone in those areas to avoid driving into flood waters."
