Northern Territory in November - hot and dry in parts

Summary

Above average temperatures and near or below average rainfall was recorded over large parts of the Territory during November. Maps displaying recent temperature and rainfall patterns can be seen on the Bureau’s web site.

Rainfall

November was typically capricious in terms of rainfall. Parts of the northern, and much of the eastern portions of the Top End were poorly served, as were large portions of the western Victoria and Alice Springs districts. However, many inland stations of the Top End and portions of central parts of the Territory received some worthwhile falls both in terms of rainfall amount and its distribution. Such is not unusual for this time of year, when rainfall is typically convective in character and thus spatially discriminative. Interestingly, while a significant number of stations reported monthly totals exceeding 100mm, the best of which was 186.2mm at Bradshaw (Darwin-Daly district), there were no spectacular daily falls reported – the highest was Snowdrop Creek’s (Roper-McArthur district) 78.8mm for the 23rd. Darwin Airport received 105.2mm for the month against an average of 141.8mm.

A trough moving through the Alice Springs district around the 4th produced widespread but light rainfall and gusty winds (Alice Springs Airport reported 61knots and Territory Grape 48 knots). The event produced Alice Springs Airport’s only fall for the month - 5.8mm against an average of 27.5mm.

Rainfall Records

Highest Monthly Total Rainfall (mm) for November 2004
Station	Record	Previous		Years of record
Station	Record	Record	Year	Years of record
Gorrie*	156.2	150.2	2000	19

Maximum Temperatures

Mean maximum temperatures were above average over the far northwestern parts of the Top End and also over a large portion of the western Alice Springs district. Elsewhere they were within 1^oC of average. Nonetheless a few maximum temperature records were set including Darwin Airport’s 37.3^oC recorded on the 28th. Not only was this the hottest November day ever recorded, but also the fourth hottest day ever at Darwin Airport since records were first taken in 1941. Jabiru Airport AWS exceeded its previous record of 42.0^oC (set on 13th November 1977) on three occasions – the 13th, 15th and 16th. Jabiru also broke its monthly-mean maximum temperature record, as shown in the tables. Darwin came close to breaking its monthly record; at 34.3^oC, this month was the second hottest average maximum temperature for November on record, and the fourth hottest for all months since records were first taken in 1941.

Rabbit Flat (Alice Springs district) reported the Territory's highest maximum temperature, 44.3^oC on the 18th, and Watarrka (also Alice Springs district) the lowest maximum temperature, 21.5^oC on the 19th. The highest mean maximum temperature was 39.7^oC at Lajamanu (Victoria district) and the lowest was 32.4^oC at Gove Airport (Arnhem district).

Minimum Temperatures

Mean minimum temperatures were mostly near average over the northern half except for small areas over the northwestern part of the Top End where they were 1^oC - 2^oC above average. The southern half also reported mostly near average minimum temperatures with the exception of a small area over the centre of the Alice Springs district where they were 1^oC - 2^oC below average and another small area to the district’s east where they were 1^oC - 2^oC above average.

Alice Springs Airport (Alice Springs district) reported the Territory's lowest minimum temperature, 10.1^oC on the 7th, and Larrimah (Roper-McArthur district) the highest minimum temperature, 30.4^oC on the 14th. The lowest mean minimum temperature was 17.9^oC at Yulara AWS (Alice Springs district) and the highest was 25.9^oC at Warruwi AWS (Arnhem district).

Temperature Records

Highest Daily Maximum Temperature (^oC) for November 2004
Station	Record	Date	Previous		Years of record
Station	Record	Date	Record	Date	Years of record
Darwin Airport	37.3	28	37.1	1/11/1993	63
Jabiru Airport AWS	42.1	13	42.0	13/11/1977	24
Jabiru Airport AWS	42.4	15	42.1	13/11/2004	25
Lajamanu	44	18 & 19	43	17/11/2002	11

Highest Monthly Mean Maximum Temperature (^oC) for November 2004
Station	Record	Previous		Years of record
Station	Record	Record	Year	Years of record
Jabiru Airport AWS	38.6	38.5	2002	24
Lajamanu	39.7	39.5	1969	11

Highest Daily Minimum Temperature (^oC) for November 2004
Station	Record	Date	Previous		Years of record
Station	Record	Date	Record	Date	Years of record
Watarrka AWS	28.6	27	28.0	30/11/1992	14
Watarrka AWS	29.2	28	28.6	27/11/2004	15
Watarrka AWS	29.8	29	29.2	28/11/2004	15

Note

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Wednesday 1 December 2004. Although every effort has been made to check them, it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Further information

The Daily Weather Observations lists daily temperatures and rainfall, plus many other meteorological variables, at more than 50 locations across the Territory (and over 700 across Australia). Data from the last 13 months are available free from this web site.

Monthly rainfall and temperature maps are also available.

Further information and clarification can be obtained from:
Climate and Consultative Services
Northern Territory Regional Office
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au