Rain, rain and more rain — ex-tropical cyclone Esther is the weather system that keeps on giving.

After making landfall in the Gulf of Carpentaria on February 24, it made its way across to the West Australian coast before doing a U-turn and moving back over the Northern Territory.

Key points: The remains of ex-tropical cyclone Esther are bringing severe weather and flooding across all states except Tasmania

The remains of ex-tropical cyclone Esther are bringing severe weather and flooding across all states except Tasmania Widespread falls of 30mm to 60mm are expected over the coming days, with isolated falls of around 100mm forecast

Widespread falls of 30mm to 60mm are expected over the coming days, with isolated falls of around 100mm forecast There will still need to be follow-up rainfall to really affect some of the country drought-affected areas

There are severe weather warnings and/or flood watches in effect in all states and territories as the system brings a deluge to drought-ravaged parts of the country.

BOM senior meteorologist Grace Legge said while the low itself was still in central NT and headed towards Queensland, its moisture was being dragged south by both an upper and surface trough.

"That's going to allow this rainfall develop over the next couple of days," she said.

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What have we had so far?

Ms Legge said the highest rainfall so far was 120 millimetres at Fowlers Gap, just north of Broken Hill, in New South Wales.

"Overall, we have seen quite decent falls through parts of the NT getting above 50mm," she said.

Alice Springs woke to a trickle in the Todd after receiving 20mm overnight, another welcome sight after the river flowed for the first time in years a few weeks ago.

The rain has also extended into Queensland, with Birdsville receiving 67mm in the 24 hours to 9:00am — that's more than it received in all of 2019.

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What is still to come?

The severe weather warnings span from central NT, through north-east South Australia, the Gulf and Channel Country in Queensland, and in a sweeping band from the north-west corner of NSW to the ACT and across the border into north-east Victoria.

"There's a very large area of severe weather that we are expecting and potentially that heavy rainfall to occur, which could result in flash flooding," Ms Legge said.

There was a risk of high winds with the cyclone's remnants in parts of the NT and Queensland, she added.

"But overall, it's the heavy rainfall and that flash flooding where we could see areas getting 50mm to 100mm."

Six Mile Creek crossing on Wangkatjungka road near Fitzroy Crossing, following heavy rainfall from Esther. ( Supplied: The Elusive Toni Facebook page )

She said the biggest totals would be more isolated — Canberra could potentially receive 80mm over 24 hours — but there were widespread areas that could expect 30mm to 60mm.

Sydney and Brisbane are expected to get showery activity, but it looks like Melbourne, southern WA and the majority of SA will again miss out.

What will it mean for the drought?

A drop in the desert, unfortunately.

"If you look at the rainfall anomalies just looking at the last six months, we're still looking at areas, especially for western parts of NSW and getting up into south-western parts of Queensland, it's still 100mm to 200mm below average," Ms Legge said.

"So while this rainfall will be great to see, we will still need to see follow-up rainfall to really affect some of those drought-affected areas."

The Balonne River in south-west Queensland flooded after recent heavy rain. ( Supplied: Balonne Shire Council/Eden Teunis )

But there is at least good news for those watching the Murray-Darling, with significant falls expected in the catchment.

People at Wilcannia are still waiting for the first flows to make their way down the Darling following rain upstream a few weeks ago.

This additional wetting of the catchment should act as a further boost.