Swathe of flood warnings issued as tropical low swirls off the coast
Northern Australia is bracing for a drenching this week, as a tropical low swirls off the coast promising to unleash flooding rains and dangerous winds.
And two states and a territory are in the firing line.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a flood watch across parts of the Northern Territory, with warnings in place for Queensland and Western Australia too.
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A low pressure system swirling off the north-west corner of Australia is promising to unleash a deluge. Weatherzone
The tropical low is expected to track southward over the territory.
This will allow storms and heavy rain to persist for days.
A severe weather warning is also in effect for parts of the Top End, with BoM forecasting peak gusts of around 100 km/h.
Weatherzone models suggest as much as 50-150 mm of rain could fall over parts of the Western Top End and Central Interior each day - for the next four to five days.
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Most of this forecasted rain is likely to fall before Friday, Weatherzone says. Weatherzone
"This prolonged deluge could see some areas receiving more than half a metre of rain this week, which is around a year's worth of rain for the Central Interior," the weather service said.
"This much rain is likely to cause flooding."
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Due to the flat landscape of the Central Interior, Weatherzone said flooding "can last for weeks".
Residents and travellers are urged to stay across all road closures.
Weather warnings can be accessed here.
Australia is in the midst of its wet season, which typically runs from November - April.
Forecasters have been on high-alert for potentially-devastating storms after ex-tropical cyclone Ellie unleashed a trail of destruction in January.
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Parts of the Kimberley look like an inland sea as an ex-tropical cyclone continues to spill heavy rain over the outback. Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA
The ex-tropical cyclone caused widespread flooding across the Kimberley region in WA, and fuelled powerful storms in New South Wales, and Queensland.
The third consecutive La Niña system that's causing much of the wet weather is slowly waning though, and is expected to relinquish its grip around autumn.
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