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Severe Flooding – in Central Australia? How a Vast Humid Air Mass Could Soak the Desert
More than 100mm of rain fell in less than 24 hours causing major rail line washouts and isolating remote communities, with flooding expected to continue this week, authorities said.
- On February 23, 2026, the Trans‑Australian Railway was cut, and authorities say the rail corridor is expected to remain closed for over a week, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning, `There is the potential for travel to be disrupted and for roads to be cut off and even the potential for communities to be isolated`.
- A very slow‑moving tropical low intensified over the Northern Territory, drawing a humid airmass from oceans off Indonesia while an upper trough extending into northwest New South Wales forces heavy rainfall.
- Many inland spots recorded exceptional totals, with some getting two months' rain in under 24 hours and rains of 150–300mm predicted this week, including 120mm in six hours at Flinders region, Arkaba and two years' rain forecast for Oodnadatta, South Australia.
- Remote communities face being cut off for weeks with likely stock losses, rural roads are cut off, and the Northern Territory's main highway is closed, isolating towns and disrupting freight.
- Scientists note the atmosphere now holds 7% more moisture per degree of warming as burning fossil fuels made the world 1.48°C hotter, supercharging the water cycle; in coming weeks, floodwaters could fill Kati Thanda‑Lake Eyre again.
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12 Articles
12 Articles
Flooding and heavy rain closes outback roads and highways
The current flooding situation has caused widespread damage. Image: SA Infrastructure and Transport A number of key freight routes remain closed in parts of South Australia and the Northern Territory. Recent widespread rainfall and flooding across Central Australia and the Barkly regions is significantly impacting the road network. Among the important freight routes to be impacted are the Stuart Highway, Tablelands Highway, Tanami, Birdsville Tr…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 25%
R 25%
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