NORTHERN Australia was affected by extensive thunderstorm activity due to an active monsoon trough that extended across the Top End of the Northern Territory to Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

A tropical low (03U) that remained stationary over the base of the Top End of the Northern Territory during the week slowly moved over north-west Western Australia on 21 January.

These systems brought widespread heavy rainfall, thunderstorms with areas of heavy to locally intense rainfall and flooding to large parts of the Northern Territory and northern Queensland.

Weekly rainfall totals greater than 100 mm were recorded across large parts of northern Australia and isolated areas of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. Some areas of central and western Northern Territory and northern Queensland received more than 300 mm of rainfall.

Weekly rainfall totals between 50 to 100mm were recorded across much of northern Australia, western Tasmania and pockets of central and north-eastern New South Wales and southern, central and western areas of Queensland.

The highest weekly rainfall total was 429.4 mm at Montejinni, Northern Territory.

The highest daily rainfall total during the week was 373 mm at Lowanna (Lowanna Road), New South Wales, in the 24 hours to 9am on 16 January.