Heavy rain over the past fortnight has brought relief to many Central Australian residents after a scorching summer.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, flooding is expected to ease from Wednesday across the flood watch area of Tanami, Western and Central deserts and MacDonnell Ranges catchments.
More than 100 roads are still reported as impassable across much of Central Australia, including a large stretch of the Tanami Road, according to Road Report NT.
Road Report NT shows more than 100 roads are impassable in Central Australia. (Supplied: Road Report NT)
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Rebecca Patrick said the recent rain across the southern part of the NT was partly driven by ex-tropical cyclone Dianne moving across from Western Australia.
“It’s now sitting over the Tanami district and is weakening as it moves further eastwards through the territory,” Ms Patrick said.
“I’m aware that there have been some roads cut for the southern and central parts of the territory.”
Ms Patrick said while the rain was easing around Alice Springs and Tennant Creek from Wednesday, winds moving down from the Top End could lead to thunderstorms in the northern parts of the Barkly district.
“We’re not getting that flooding rain that Queensland has received but the north-westerly flow through the Barkly is bringing a fair bit of moisture,” she said.
“It does look like the Todd is flowing at the moment, so [there is] a bit of interest in that around [Alice Springs] town.”
‘Absolutely magic’
Alice Springs residents ventured out to enjoy the river flowing after a sweltering summer.
Sue Grant said the rainfall was “absolutely magic”.
Sue Grant says the recent heavy rains are a “miracle”. (ABC News: Lllian Rangiah)
“Rain in the desert is like a miracle — it’s such a blessing,”
Ms Grant said.
Pastoralists welcome deluge
About 274 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs, Lyndavale resident and cattle company director, Ross Stane, said the rain had led to welcome green shoots.
“I think we’re up to 60 millimetres here over the last couple of weeks, and I think Mount Ebenezer is up close to 100 millimetres now,” Mr Stane said.
“Now that it’s cooled off slightly from the extreme heat we’ve had over summer, it couldn’t be a better time to really get the feed going.
“You also get a lot of herbage as it starts to cool down, so it’s great timing for us.”
The rain was welcomed at Mount Doreen station. (Supplied: Lil Bryant)
About 319 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs, Mount Doreen cattle station resident Lil Bryant said a few of the bores on her homestead had up to 60 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday.
“We haven’t had much rain leading into this this system,” she said.
“We’ve sort of been on the edge of a few fronts around us, and not much has fallen here.
“We were unlucky in getting a couple of bushfires at the end of last year and again at the start of this year.
“This rain gives us some relief [and] takes a little bit of pressure off our waters and hopefully [leads to] a bit of green feed around.”
But Ms Bryant said road closures were expected to impact access routes.
“Our food store truck is meant to get out to Nyirripi on Friday, and I don’t think that that will happen,” she said.
