AFTER peaking at about 1pm on March 27, the swollen Katherine River was beginning to fall slowly on Saturday morning.
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At 7:56am on March 28, the Bureau of Meteorology advised that river levels were falling at both the old railway bridge and the Nitmiluk Centre, with the latter expected to remain above the minor flood level of three metres for the remainder of the day.
Currently, Gorge Road remains impassable at Maud Creek.
In Beswick, the Waterhouse River has dropped below the minor flood level of 7.7m and reach 6m later tonight.
The next flood warning will be issued at 5pm on March 28.
For detailed flood warnings on the Katherine River and Waterhouse River, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.
EARLIER - MARCH 27, 2015 (1pm):
THERE is still "no expectation" of flooding in Katherine, despite the Katherine River rising above 12 metres on March 27.
Northern Territory Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Michael Murphy said that, although the river had risen substantially at the old railway bridge in the past 24 hours, there was no danger for the town itself.
"There is no expectation that Katherine township will be affected by flooding," he said.
"At the Katherine Bridge, the level is 12m and steady, still well within the riverbanks.
"Gorge Road is closed, with 1m of water across the road at Maud Creek."
Katherine Town Council has closed all low access points to the river, including the Low Level Crossing.
Floodwater is also affecting communities around Katherine after the Waterhouse River peaked at a major flood level yesterday.
The Central Arnhem Highway remains closed at Beswick and Acting Assistant Commissioner Murphy said additional police officers and Northern Territory Emergency Service personnel were in the community to assist residents.
"The Wugularr School remains closed today and is being used as the evacuation centre," he said.
"At this stage, it is anticipated that the school will reopen on Tuesday.
“Six houses in the bottom camp have been affected by water; it is believed the water inside the homes is only shallow.
"Police from Mataranka are working with the Jilkminggan community which will experience some nearby localised flooding as a result of the Waterhouse River system to ensure they are prepared.”
For detailed flood warnings on the Katherine River and Waterhouse River, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.
EARLIER - MARCH 27, 2015 (9am):
THE Katherine River has risen to more than 12 metres following rainfall of between 20 millimetres and 50mm in the catchment overnight.
At 8:14am on Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology reported that the Katherine River was at 12.05 metres and rising.
The river is expected to continue falling slowing at the Nitmiluk Centre but the BOM is predicting it will remain above the minor flood level of 3m.
On March 26, Northern Territory Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Michael Murphy said the Katherine Local Emergency Committee said the priority in town was ensuring that residents were well informed.
“It’s going to be well contained within the banks,” he said.
In the community of Beswick, the Waterhouse River is currently above the major flood level but holding steady at about 8.6m.
The next flood warnings for both rivers will be issued at 1pm on March 27.
For detailed flood warnings on the Katherine River and Waterhouse River, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.
EARLIER - MARCH 26, 2015 (4.30pm):
DESPITE the Katherine River continuing to rise, the Bureau of Meteorology says it is not forecasting enough overnight rainfall to increase flood levels.
At 3.56pm on March 26, the BOM advised that the river was levelling off below four metres at the Nitmiluk Centre and that “rainfall has eased throughout today and little rainfall is expected overnight that could increase flood levels”.
The river is expected to continue to remain steady at the Nitmiluk Centre into Thursday evening and start receding overnight.
Earlier, Northern Territory Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Michael Murphy told the Katherine Times the town’s local emergency committee said the river posed “absolutely no concern for Katherine residents” based on current forecasts.
In Beswick, a major flood warning is still in place for the Waterhouse River, but its level had fallen to 8.62m after an earlier peak of about 8.7m.
Parks and Wildlife Commission NT warned on social media that a saltwater crocodile - estimated to be between 2m and 3m long - had been reported in the floodwater around the indigenous community.
For detailed flood warnings on the Katherine River and Waterhouse River, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.
EARLIER - MARCH 26, 2015 (12.30pm):
THE Katherine Local Emergency Committee says it has ‘absolutely no concern’ about flooding in the town as the Katherine River continues to rise.
At 11am on March 26, the river had reached 8.71 metres and was continuing to rise at the old railway bridge in Katherine, but Northern Territory Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Michael Murphy said the committee was not worried about the town being flooded.
“In essence, the information we have from the Bureau of Meteorology is that [the Nitmiluk Centre], which gives us 12 hours’ warning, is 3.78m currently,” he told the Katherine Times.
“At 3m it’s a minor flood for George Road … so there are no concerns for the Katherine Township.”
He said that rain had eased in the catchments and that the committee’s priority was to ensure the community remained well informed.
“It’s going to be well contained within the banks,” he said.
“There’s absolutely no concern for Katherine residents.”
A major flood warning remains in place for the Waterhouse River, with police and Northern Territory Emergency Service personnel being deployed from Katherine to assist the Beswick community.
For detailed flood warnings on the Katherine River and Waterhouse River, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.
EARLIER - MARCH 26, 2015 (7.30am):
A MINOR flood warning remains in place for the Katherine River following widespread rainfall in the catchment since 9am on March 25.
Totals of between 30 millimetres and 50mm have been recorded during the period, with the river set to approach the minor flood level of three metres at the Nitmiluk Centre by Thursday afternoon.
Unless there is considerable further rainfall, the BOM has advised that the moderate flood level for the Nitmiluk Centre - 5.5m - is not expected to be reached.
At 7am on March 26, the river level had risen to 7.35m at the town’s old railway bridge.
The Katherine Local Emergency Committee will meet again at 8.30am.
A major flood warning has been issued for the Waterhouse River, with the river level expected to approach 9m at the Beswick bridge by midday on March 26.
The next flood warning will be issued at midday on March 26.
For detailed flood warnings on the Katherine River and Waterhouse River, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.
MARCH 25, 2015:
THE Bureau of Meteorology has issued an initial flood warning for the Katherine River following heavy rain upstream overnight.
Widespread rainfall totals between 100 millimetres and 150mm have been recorded in the Katherine River catchment since 9am on March 24, with some isolated falls of more than 200mm.
River levels are currently below flood levels but are starting to rise in response to the rain.
The river at the Nitmiluk Centre is currently below the minor flood level for Gorge Road but is expected to exceed three metres on Wednesday evening.
The Katherine Local Emergency Committee has convened and Northern Territory Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Michael Murphy said mobile phones would be used to keep residents informed.
"People in areas likely to be affected are asked to take necessary steps to ensure your personal safety, and protection of your property," he said.
“SMS messaging will be utilised to inform the community of any further advice received from the Bureau of Meteorology."
The next flood warning will be issued at 6pm on March 25.
For a detailed flood warning, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.