<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Almost half of Australia has been put on flood watch, with warnings of a drenching for multiple states and territories in the coming days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The conditions are being driven a slow-moving tropical low-pressure system over central Australia, which has triggered severe weather warnings for an area comparable with the size of France and Belgium.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Parts of the Northern Territory, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and NSW are forecast to bear the brunt of the drenching, from today.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/autumn-weather-forecast-australia-2026-state-by-state/098c6893-9a0e-48df-b27f-f0d41aec9f4f" rel="" target="_blank" title="Most of Australia is staring down the barrel of a dry, hot autumn"><strong><span>Most of Australia is staring down the barrel of a dry, hot autumn</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How says residents should expect prolonged rainfall.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For Northern Territory and Queensland, rainfall may start to ease later on Wednesday into Thursday, but for South Australia and New South Wales, heavy rain is forecast to continue well into the weekend, even pushing a little bit further south into South Australia from Friday," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorities in NSW are warning residents in the state's west to prepare for extreme conditions starting today.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-update-half-of-country-under-flood-watch/12a713be-bca3-41ac-98f4-f09b850cfab7" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Residents in Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Wilcannia, White Cliffs, Wanaaring and Menindee are advised to stay indoors during severe weather and avoid unnecessary travel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rainfall totals of 50mm to 90mm are forecast within 24 hours, with isolated falls up to 130mm possible. In some areas, much of this rain may fall within six hours, increasing the likelihood of rapid creek rises, overland flooding and dangerous driving conditions.</span></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="2026185189429329992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In Victoria, a severe weather warning has been issued for a large area east of Melbourne, including the west and south Gippsland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From tomorrow, some breaks in the rain are forecast across the NT and Queensland, but damp conditions will continue to build across parts of South Australia and north-western pockets of New South Wales.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Heading into Friday, the rain could extend into central parts of South Australia, including Adelaide.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The wet conditions are likely to linger over Central Australia into the weekend, and possibly continue into next week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>