Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Northern Territory TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST Severe Weather Warning for Heavy Rainfall for parts of Simpson district. Issued at 9:01 am Tuesday, 17 March 2026. Heavy rainfall is continuing through the south. Weather Situation A rich tropical airmass extends over the centre of the country with a surface trough extending through southern parts of the state. Meanwhile an upper trough is moving across central parts of SA. This combination is continuing to bring the risk of heavy rainfall to the far south of the state today. HEAVY RAINFALL for the following areas: Simpson HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for parts of the Simpson. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 and 80 mm are likely. Heavy rainfall is expected to ease during this afternoon or evening. Flood Watches and Warnings are current for the area. Please refer to https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts/ for more information. Locations which may be affected include Santa Teresa and Simpson District east of Finke. The Northern Territory Emergency Service advises that people should: * secure loose outside objects and seek shelter when conditions deteriorate * pull over if it is raining heavily and you cannot see, park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears * avoid driving into water of unknown depth and current * create your own sandbags if there is flooding, by using pillow cases or shopping bags filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home * stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways * ensure pets and animals are safe * be prepared in case of power outages, have an emergency kit with a radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit * for emergency help in floods, storms and cyclones, contact the NTES on 132 500. For more safety tips visit www.securent.nt.gov.au The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 5:00 pm ACST Tuesday. Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and Northern Territory Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.