Monty sets new record rainfall amounts

[senorpepr]

Rainfall records on Groote Eylandt off Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory have been broken after torrential rain associated with ex-tropical Cyclone Evan.

There are no reports of any serious damage in the Gulf communities hit by the cyclone overnight and the system is now a rain depression moving west over land.

Tony Fuller from Alyangula police says trees and powerlines were knocked over but there is no major damage.

"It wasn't that windy at all but the rain certainly made it interesting," he said.

Groote Eylandt's previous 24 hour record of 158 millimetres was doubled.

At last report the ex-tropical cyclone was centred about 40 kilometres north-northwest of Numbulwar.

Pradeep Singh from the weather bureau says the interior of the Territory can expect flooding later this week.

"As the system moves across them tonight I guess the heavy rain will be experienced by Katherine and then later on further westwards."

Police in Katherine are monitoring the situation.

Katherine police are checking the Stuart Highway south of the town but at last report the road was open to all traffic at the King River Bridge.

The Victoria Highway to the west is closed at the Victoria River Bridge.