NORTHERN Australia was affected by extensive thunderstorm activity due to an active monsoon trough which 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 during the week and slowly moved over north-west Western Australia on January 21 also had an impact.

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

Weekly rainfall totals greater than 100mm were recorded across large parts of northern Australia and isolated areas of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Qld.

Some areas of the central and western NT and northern Qld received more than 300mm of rainfall.

Weekly rainfall totals between 50-100mm were recorded across much of northern Australia, western Tasmania and pockets of central and north-eastern NSW and southern, central and western areas of Qld.

The highest weekly rainfall total was 429mm at Montejinni, NT.

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