The arrival of a second monsoon trough across the Top End is tipped to trigger more rain in Katherine from Friday.

The official “relatively weak” monsoon onset was January 23.

Recent weekly totals across the north have been varied: 314mm Croker Is Airport, Gunn Point 213mm, Katherine 111mm, Darwin Airport 169mm and Gove Airport 139mm.

“Monsoonal activity is expected to persist over northern Australia, with a broad focus developing over the Gulf of Carpentaria, NE Top End and Cape York over the next few days,” the Bureau of Meteorology says.

“Strong wind warnings will likely be issued for parts of the Arafura Sea, possibly reaching gale strength by the end of the week.

“A tropical low in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria is broad and slow-moving. It is not expected to develop into a Tropical Cyclone over the next few days.

“The system will be a driver of weather in and around the Gulf of Carpentaria periphery.

“Daily rainfall totals of 40-80mm are possible over the northeast Top End from Wednesday, before extending west across the Top End and into coastal areas of the Carpentaria District by Saturday.”

Katherine has recorded 180mm for January, down on an average of 268mm.

The wet season is far from over with yet, with the February average for the town 235mm.

While rain has been fairly light in the town this week, the bureau says 36mm was recorded upstream in the Nitmiluk park in the past 24 hours.

Katherine River at Katherine is 3.48 metres and falling.

The bureau, and other weather websites, are forecasting the likelihood of heavy falls in Katherine from Friday through the weekend.

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