Northern Territory flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle and its aftermath in March 2026
Consensus Summary
The Northern Territory experienced severe flooding in March 2026 after ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle moved through the region, bringing heavy rainfall and causing widespread damage. Katherine endured its worst flooding in nearly 28 years on March 7, with the Katherine River peaking at 19.2 metres, inundating homes, businesses, and evacuating Katherine Hospital. The town faced a second potential flood event later in the month as the remnants of Narelle brought further rain, with the BOM warning of possible minor and major flooding levels. The Adelaide River also saw major flooding, cutting off road access and triggering boil water alerts, while remote communities like Daly River/Nauiyu and Beswick/Wugularr faced evacuations and prolonged flooding. Over 10,000 sandbags were distributed in Katherine, and the NT government activated personal hardship payments for affected residents. Despite some easing of floodwaters, the BOM continued to warn of elevated river levels and potential further rain, keeping residents on edge as recovery efforts were temporarily paused. The NT government and federal authorities coordinated responses, including setting up field hospitals and requesting additional support from the Australian Defence Force and interstate emergency services.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle moved through the Northern Territory as a tropical low over the weekend of March 2026, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding.
- Katherine experienced its worst flooding in nearly 28 years on March 7, 2026, with the Katherine River peaking at 19.2 metres at Katherine Bridge.
- The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued multiple flood warnings for the Katherine River, including minor flood levels at 16 metres and major flood levels at 17.5 metres.
- Katherine Hospital was evacuated and closed on March 2026, with a field hospital set up in Katherine East to serve flood-affected residents.
- The Adelaide River reached major flood levels on March 2026, with four homes inundated and a boil water alert issued for Adelaide River and surrounding communities.
- More than 10,000 sandbags were distributed around Katherine to protect homes and businesses from flooding.
- The Daly River/Nauiyu community was evacuated twice in 2026 due to flooding, with residents displaced for over a month.
- The Stuart Highway was cut off by floodwaters north of Adelaide River and near Katherine, disrupting road access.
- Personal Hardship Payments and Immediate Relief Payments were activated for flood-affected residents in the Northern Territory.
- Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle dumped over 200 millimetres of rain on parts of the Northern Territory, including Adelaide River.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The NT government requested additional support from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for flood relief efforts in Katherine (Article 1).
- The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre set up a field hospital in Katherine East after Katherine Hospital was evacuated (Article 1).
- The Katherine River peaked just above the major flood level of 17.5 metres on Thursday morning, 1.6 metres below the March 7 peak (Article 2).
- The BOM predicted the Katherine River would peak below the major flood level at Katherine Bridge on the evening of the same day ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle left the NT (Article 3).
- The Katherine River was expected to reach the major flood level of 17.5 metres on Wednesday afternoon in Article 4, but this was later revised to a peak below the major flood level in Article 2.
- The Katherine River was predicted to peak at 15.81 metres on Tuesday afternoon in Article 4, just below the minor flood level of 16 metres.
- The BOM confirmed floods were no longer threatening Adelaide River by Wednesday afternoon (Article 2).
- The field hospital in Katherine East was expected to remain functional until the risk of further flooding passed (Article 4).
- The Katherine High School evacuation centre was stood down on Monday afternoon after warnings were downgraded (Article 4).
- The NT government had requested additional support from the federal government for small businesses impacted by flooding (Article 4).
- The BOM predicted minor flooding at Katherine Bridge from Tuesday morning and the river potentially reaching the major flood level within 24 hours (Article 5).
- The Stuart Highway was smashed by flooding, with several sections damaged this month (Article 5).
- The BOM warned of elevated river levels in the Lower Adelaide River and the potential for further wet weather (Article 6).
- Emergency service volunteers from South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory arrived to support frontline emergency personnel in Katherine (Article 6).
- The BOM predicted the Katherine River would stay at the major flood level until Thursday morning before receding (Article 6).
- The BOM said the Katherine River would start receding after Thursday due to a lack of rainfall (Article 6).
- The BOM predicted the Waterhouse River could exceed the 7.7-metre minor flood level at Beswick Bridge on Wednesday morning (Article 6).
- The BOM said prolonged major flooding was continuing along the Daly River at Daly River Police Station for the remainder of March (Article 6).
- The BOM said the Katherine River at Katherine Bridge was expected to exceed the moderate flood level (16.5m) early Wednesday morning (Article 6).
- The BOM said the Katherine River at Nimiluk Centre was continuing to rise as of Tuesday morning (Article 6).
- The BOM said the Katherine River would likely start receding on Thursday morning (Article 4).
- The BOM said the Katherine River would reach the major flood level of 17.5 metres on Wednesday afternoon in Article 4, but this was later downgraded to moderate flood levels in Article 2.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 states the Katherine River could exceed the minor flood level of 16 metres this morning, while Article 2 states the river peaked just above the major flood level of 17.5 metres on Thursday morning, 1.6 metres below the March 7 peak.
- Article 3 says the Katherine River is predicted to peak below the major flood level at Katherine Bridge overnight, while Article 4 says the BOM forecast the river could reach the major flood level of 17.5 metres on Wednesday afternoon.
- Article 2 states the Katherine River was sitting a few centimetres below the 17.5-metre major flood level after peaking just above it on Thursday morning, but Article 4 states the river was at 15.81 metres on Tuesday afternoon, just below the minor flood level.
- Article 1 mentions the river levels at Katherine Bridge could exceed the minor flood level of 16 metres this morning, while Article 6 states the river was expected to exceed the moderate flood level (16.5m) early Wednesday morning.
- Article 2 says the Katherine River was expected to peak just above the major flood level of 17.5 metres, while Article 3 says the river was predicted to peak below the major flood level.
Source Articles
Katherine braces for possibility of second major flood this month
Residents in Katherine are bracing for the possibility of major riverine flooding today, which would mark the second significant weather event to rock the town in a month....
Weary Katherine residents on edge ahead of another possible major flood
Exhausted residents in the Northern Territory town of Katherine are once again on alert as they prepare for further possible major flooding on Wednesday....
BOM says more rain causing 'significant river level rises' in soaked NT
BOM is warning major riverine flooding could follow the "moderate to heavy rainfall" dumped across the NT by ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle....
Ex-TC Narelle leaves NT with minimal damage but emergency 'not over yet'
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle has left the Northern Territory after dumping more than 200mm of rain on the Top End overnight, but authorities have warned the emergency is "not over"....
Katherine escapes more flood damage as remote evacuees start heading home
Major flooding has eased along the Katherine River and the town has been spared further damage, while surrounding remote communities are starting to recover....
Narelle leaves Katherine anxiously awaiting second flood this month
As ex-Cyclone Narelle moves to Western Australia, the Northern Territory town of Katherine prepares for its second flood event this month....