Disturbance by storm flows and floods can shape lotic ecosystems. During the 3 month wet season of the Australian wet–dry tropics, storm flow disturbances are frequent. Benthic algal resistance and resilience in open canopy streams in the Daly River catchment are investigated. The following hypotheses were tested: (1) storm flow will dislodge benthic algal biomass, (2) base flow biomass will be low, (3) taxon richness will also be low, and (4) algal composition will be dominated by either resistant algae with a prostrate and/or erect growth forms, or fast growing colonizing algae. Storm flows dislodged approximately 93% of epilithic biomass, supporting the first hypothesis. Benthic biomass was typical of temperate oligotrophic streams, though maximum biomasses were more typical of mesotrophic streams. The second hypothesis is not supported unequivocally. The relatively rapid growth and high biomasses are attributed to the warm water temperatures, as well as high incident light, rapid algal nutrient uptake, and grazing pressure constrained by the loss of invertebrates caused by storm flows and physical impediments to fish access. Sample taxon richness averaged 34, higher than expected and not supporting the third hypothesis due to the occurrence of rare taxa. Nor was the fourth hypothesis supported, as epilithic algal biomass was dominated by resistant filamentous algae. Epilithic algae demonstrated a similar resistance to storm flow disturbances compared to higher latitude streams, but a greater level of resilience, and could potentially supply an autochthonous source of carbon to the Daly River.