Deep convection impacts far northern sections of the Northern Territory! (credit: Bureau of Meteorology)

DISCUSSION: As of earlier today in far northern sections of the Northern Territory located in north-central Australia, there was a cluster of deeper convection which fired up as daytime heating ensued.  Thus, several cities across far north-central Australia were in the path of fairly dangerous thunderstorms which quickly developed a history of intense cloud-to-ground lightning, heavy rainfall, and strong winds.  As daytime heating intensified through the course of the afternoon hours, the intensity of the associated convection was applied accordingly since the stronger instability led to stronger in-storm updrafts and therefore a more prolific atmospheric response.  Attached below is a direct excerpt from the Bureau of Meteorology (as re-shared by the Palmerston Weather Facebook team): "For people in the Litchfield, Palmerston, Darwin and parts of the Bynoe and Cox Peninsula areas.

Issued at 9:28 pm Saturday, 28 January 2017.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 9:20 pm, potential severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Middle Point, Lambells Lagoon, the Adelaide River to the east of Darwin and the Adelaide River to the southeast of Darwin. They are forecast to affect Palmerston, Humpty Doo, Howard Springs and Berry Springs by 9:50 pm and Darwin City, the Northern Suburbs, Channel Island and Mandorah by 10:20 pm.

Damaging winds are likely.

The Northern Territory Emergency Service advises that people should:
* secure loose outside objects
* ensure pets and animals are safe
* avoid remaining in the open when storms threaten
* 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
* for emergency help in floods, storms and cyclones, contact the NTES on 132.500

To learn more about other high-impact weather events occurring across Australia and the South Pacific, be sure to click here!

©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz