NORTHERN TERRITORIANS are on the lookout for crocodiles in the wake of tropical Cyclone Grant.
And Queenslanders are on alert as the cyclone threatens to redevelop on Friday.
Northern Territory chief minister Paul Henderson warned residents to stay clear of waterways as the region recovers from the cyclone.
In an emergency message from the Northern Territory government, residents were warned not to swim or wade in flood waters in case they came across the monster reptiles.
“Flooded waterways should be avoided at all costs,” Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson told reporters.
The Cullen and Edith rivers have swelled to dangerous levels due to heavy rains, causing flooding to the Stuart Highway and damaging several bridges north of Katherine.
Tropical cyclone Grant hit the Northern Territory earlier this week, causing flooding and some wind damage, before being downgraded to storm status and heading out to sea.
The tropical storm is moving east towards the Gulf of Carpentaria – heading towards Queensland’s north.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the weather system was tracking east at about 19 kilometres per hour.
“Ex-tropical cyclone Grant is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria and is expected to continue moving steadily east, and may redevelop into a tropical cyclone on Friday,” the weather bureau said.
A cyclone watch was issued for communities between Thursday Island and Gilbert River Mouth.
Forecaster Brett Harrison told the ABC that the system was developing slowly.
“It’s likely to cross the coast around the afternoon of tomorrow and expect it to be a category one system by that time,” he added.
He said the system was likely to weaken once it hit land but could re-intensify once over the Coral Sea.
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