Twin tropical lows are dumping heavy rainfall across large parts of northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, with Katherine facing its worst flood disaster in decades.

A major flood warning is in place for the outback town, 300km south of Darwin, as well as nearby Nitmiluk, as the Katherine River rises rapidly.

It reached the moderate flood level of 16.75 metres earlier today and is expected to reach the major flood level of 17.5m, near March 2000 flood levels, this afternoon, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

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Katherine Hospital has been evacuated, with all patients being transferred to hospitals in Darwin due to flooding in the area.

"Further rainfall is expected during Friday, which may cause higher river level rises," the bureau warned.

The system is expected to move further west and a major flood warning is also in place for the Daly River with more general warnings for much of the Top End towards the Western Australian border.

Another tropical low sitting offshore from Cairns is due to cross the Queensland coast this afternoon and has already dumped more than 400mm on the Daintree River and 200mm on Cooktown.

Millions are prepared for a wet weekend as the system, while now unlikely to become a tropical cyclone, is expected to bring heavy rain as it tracks inland and south, reaching Brisbane and the south-east coast by Sunday.

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"Once the low crosses the coast today, it will move further towards the west and gradually turn and move towards the south over the weekend, but as it does, it'll also start to draw in a lot of tropical moisture, and that's with the surface trough which is lying over inland eastern parts of Queensland," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathon How said.

"This will bring increased showers and rain to most northern, central and eastern districts."

River catchments across northern Queensland are saturated and further flood warnings could be issued, he warned.

The bureau has issued a warning for heavy to locally intense rainfall that extends from north of Tully, north towards North Cook down to Cape Melville and inland, taking in Cairns, Port Douglas, Daintree, Cooktown, and the Atherton Tablelands.

That area is being warned of six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 240mm and 24-hour totals of 300mm.

The rain is expected to spread south to Townsville and then Mackay, before hitting the Wide Bay and Darling Downs tomorrow as well as Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast by Sunday.

"On Saturday, we'll see a few showers, but they will mostly build towards the late evening and Sunday will be the wettest day across southeast Queensland," How said.

"There is increasing confidence that we could see moderate rainfall totals in the range of 50 to 100 across south-east Queensland, including Brisbane on the Sunday, and we could also see higher isolated falls."

Brisbane can also expect slightly cooler temperatures with a top of 26 degrees over the weekend.

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Vehicles are being turned around and drivers urged to delay travel.

The federal government said it is "really disappointing" that repatriation flights from Dubai to Australia are sitting half empty, as thousands of stranded citizens wait desperately for their ticket out of the Middle Eastern warzone.

Several planeloads carrying hundreds of passengers on Etihad and Emirates flights have now safely returned to Melbourne and Sydney since fighting began.

Emotional reunions unfolded at arrival gates as relieved and weary travellers touched down on Australian soil, however some passengers have now claimed the "ghost flights" had plenty of free seats.

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Around 270 people were on board an Emirates flight arriving in Melbourne at 6am today, which is half the plane's usual capacity.

An Etihad flight with spare seats from Abu Dhabi also touched down in Sydney yesterday about 9.30am.

Passengers reported seeing row after row of spare seats as they boarded the relief flight, despite Wong's assurance that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was working with commercial carriers to bring Australians home.

There are around 24,000 Australians still in the UAE.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government would work with carriers to ensure "every seat [is] filled".

"That is really disappointing and I'm disappointed with that," Wong told reporters today.

"So we are seeking to work even more closely with the airlines to try and coordinate that.

"We know that people are very stressed – can I assure you we are working as hard as we can around the clock, including with the airlines and the governments to try and get people home as quickly as possible."

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A spokesperson for Emirates declined to comment on passenger numbers but said around 100 flights were scheduled to depart and return to Dubai today and yesterday.

"Emirates will continue to gradually build back its flying schedule, subject to airspace availability and all operational requirements being met," the spokesperson said.

"Safety is always our top priority."

Nine.com.au has contacted Etihad Airlines for comment.

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Explosions and flashes lit up the night sky over the Beirut southern suburbs.

The woman was thrown into the water and pinned between large concrete blocks.

Jackie "O" Henderson has released a statement insisting she did not quit or resign from the Kyle and Jackie O Show following her on-air row with co-host Kyle Sandilands.

"Over the past few days, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about my departure from the show," Henderson said tonight in the statement, released by her manager Gemma O'Neill.

"I want to make one important point very clear: I did not quit or resign.

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"I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending. This has come as a shock to me, as it has to everyone else," she said.

"It has been truly heartbreaking to see how this has unfolded. At this stage, I am unable to say anything further, as I am addressing this through the appropriate legal channels," she said.

"Thank you to everyone who has sent kind messages of support during what has been an incredibly challenging time."

ARN Media, the parent company of KIIS FM, announced on Tuesday that "Ms Jacqueline Henderson has given notice that she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands".

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"Accordingly, ARN has terminated the services agreement with Henderson Media Pty Ltd, under which Ms Henderson presents the Kyle and Jackie O Show. Ms Henderson will cease to present the Kyle and Jackie O Show."

ARN said Sandilands' behaviour on the February 20 show – the final one the pair hosted together – was "an act of serious misconduct" and gave the shock jock 14 days to address it.

"If it is not remedied, ARN will terminate the services agreement with Quasar Media, and in that event Mr Sandilands will cease to present the Kyle and Jackie O Show," ARN said.

"During the 14-day period, Mr Sandilands will not take part in the show. The KIIS breakfast show will be taken off-air effective immediately, with interim arrangements made for the show."

Both Henderson and Sandilands have kept quiet this week.

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Kiwis have been warned to dispose of or seek a refund for the Spanish-style chorizo.

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