SEVERE Tropical Cyclone Megan made landfall as a Category 3 system on March 18 on the south-western coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, south-east of Port McArthur in the Northern Territory.

The system was downgraded to a tropical low on March 19, as it moved westwards across the interior of the NT towards Western Australia.

There was widespread rainfall and isolated thunderstorms across parts of northern Australia throughout the week associated with monsoonal activity, while a series of troughs moved across southern, western and eastern parts of the country, bringing mostly moderate rainfall totals.

Weekly rainfall totals greater than 200mm were recorded across western, central and eastern parts of the NT and along the north-eastern coast of Qld, with some areas receiving more than 300mm.

Weekly rainfall totals of 100-200mm were recorded across central and southern areas of the NT, an isolated pocket of the Kimberley district of WA and areas of western and northern Queensland.

Weekly rainfall totals of 50-100mm were recorded in the Top End and southern areas of the NT, north-eastern parts of WA, western, northern and isolated pockets of central Qld, and parts of western Tasmania.

The highest weekly rainfall total was 387mm at Cape Flattery in Queensland.

The highest daily rainfall total during the week was 289mm at Centre Island, NT, in the 24 hours to 9am on March 19.