It was the downpour we've been waiting for, and it didn't disappoint.
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Overnight, the Katherine River rose more than seven metres reaching a mark unseen for about two years.
As ex Tropical Cyclone Esther tracked west across the Northern Territory, below Katherine, rain totals of more than 100mm were recorded in many areas.
The river reached a high point of about 8.5 metres early this morning and while it has since dropped to about seven metres, it is still drawing spectators.
It is the first time this wet season the river has reached any significant height following the Northern Territory's driest year on record in half a century.
While the current is slow moving, the Katherine Hot Springs and the Low Level Bridge are still completely underwater.
Further downpours are still a possibility over the next week with early predictions ex cyclone Esther may reverse on her tracks after crossing to Western Australia and come back into the NT.
Katherine can expect a few scattered showers tomorrow and into the weekend, bringing a much needed reprieve to what has been a dismal wet season so far.
Ex tropical cyclone Esther is now just east of Timber Creek in the Gregory district.
As of noon today, in the past 27 hours significant rainfall totals were recorded across several districts:
- Daly: Bachelor 182.8mm, Darwin Airport 46.4mm
- Gregory: Victoria River Downs 153.2mm
- Carpentaria: Tindal 40.4mm, McArthur River Mine 53.6mm
- Arnhem: Milingimbi recorded 50.2mm
Rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms are set to continue across the western Top End, Darwin and western Gregory districts tomorrow before easing from Saturday, although showers and thunderstorms storms will remain likely.
The chance of rain over the Carpentaria and Arnhem districts begins easing from today.
Ex tropical cyclone Esther is expected to strengthen as a low from this afternoon as it keeps heading west and begins drawing moisture from the Timor Sea.
Later this weekend it is expected to turn east and head towards inland Australia.
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