Uluru closed after record-breaking rain turns site into a giant waterfall

An extreme weather event dumping heavy rain across the Northern Territory has forced the closure of Uluru National Park.

Heavy rain has created a series of water courses on Uluru. Source: Parks Australia

Record-breaking rain and flash flooding has closed Uluru National Park until further notice, Parks Australia says.

A deep low pressure system was on Monday moving slowly southeast across the Northern Territory, carrying locally-destructive winds, heavy rain and the risk of flash flooding, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Heavy rainfall created cascading waterfalls at Uluru. Source: Parks Australia

"Due to an extreme weather event, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has been closed until further notice," Parks Austalia said in a statement.

"Our rangers are checking the condition of the roads every hour in a bid to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so."

The weather bureau listed Yulara, north of the park, as a location which would be affected.

Peak wind gusts reached up to 125km/h and the Walungurru district recorded 232mm of rain in 24 hours.

"We've only got about 15 years of records at that location, but it's clearly well above previous totals," BoM forecaster Mosese Raico told AAP.

Previously, the highest monthly total for December for that region was 161mm, recorded in 2003.

The highest daily total for any time of the year was 127mm, recorded in March 2006.

Mr Raico said the low was not expected to move into South Australia until Tuesday and heavy rain would persist.