Northern Territory in December - Monsoon onset relieves hot and dry conditions in the north.

Summary

The monsoon trough formed near Darwin just before Christmas and developed further toward the end of the month, bringing extended rain periods and relieving a hot and dry spell over the western Top End. Elsewhere, the Territory experienced above average temperatures in central western and far northern parts and well below average rainfall in central western and southern areas.

Maps displaying recent temperature and rainfall patterns can be seen on the Bureau’s web site.

Rainfall

In general terms the Territory experienced well below average rainfall in central western and southern areas and above average rainfall over portions of its northeastern parts. Elsewhere rainfall was near average.

It should be noted that except for the odd, but very isolated good fall, much of the Top End experienced a general paucity of rain for the first half of the month. Darwin Airport, for example, had by the 15th received an accumulated total of only 15.2mm, well short of its monthly average of 247.9mm. However, the arrival of the monsoon around the 23rd commenced a turn around in the rainfall stakes, slowly at first, but later gathering sufficient momentum to overcome those earlier deficiencies and bring many stations up to near average figures by the end of the month (Darwin Airport finished with 236.8mm). The Chase topped the Territory with a monthly total of 356.2mm.

Further south, fortunes were mixed but many stations finished the month with below or well below average rainfall. Jervois, for the first time since records commenced in 1966, received no December rain whatsoever.

Rainfall Records

Lowest Monthly Total Rainfall (mm) for December 2004
Station	Record	Previous		Years of record
Station	Record	Record	Year	Years of record
Jervois*	0.0	0.2	2002	38
Birrindudu	13.0	13.2	1992	11

Maximum Temperatures

Mean maximum temperatures were above average over the Cobourg Peninsula and much of the central western area of the Territory. Elsewhere they were within 1^oC of average. However, as with rainfall, northern areas of the Territory experienced substantially contrasting conditions during the course of the month with the elevated temperatures of the first few weeks being later offset by the cooling influences of the monsoon. Darwin Airport, for example experienced an all time record hot spell of 7 consecutive days of 35^oC or more between the 9th and 15th, while yet completing the month only 0.8^oC above average. Lajamanu exceeded its previously highest daily maximum on 7 occasions during the first three weeks of the month.

Rabbit Flat (Alice Springs district) reported the Territory's highest maximum temperature, 46.3^oC on the 6th, and Kulgera (also Alice Springs district) the lowest maximum temperature, 24^oC on the 1st. The highest mean maximum temperature was 40.8^oC at Wave Hill (Victoria River district) and the lowest was 32.5^oC at Galiwinku and Ngayawili (both Arnhem district).

Minimum Temperatures

Mean minimum temperatures were near normal except for some areas along eastern border districts where they were 1^oC - 2^oC above average and in the very far south where they were 1^oC - 2^oC below average. Two stations in the Top End reported record warm December daily minimum temperatures during the aforementioned hot spell.

Kulgera (Alice Springs district) reported the Territory's lowest minimum temperature, 9.6^oC on the 2nd, and Tennant Creek Airport (Barkly district) the highest minimum temperature, 30.2^oC on the 6th. The lowest mean minimum temperature was 18.9^oC at Kulgera (Alice Springs district) and the highest was 26.8^oC at Centre Island (Arnhem district).

Temperature Records

Highest Daily Maximum Temperature (^oC) for December 2004
Station	Record	Date	Previous		Years of record
Station	Record	Date	Record	Date	Years of record
Wave Hill	44.3	14	44.0	25/12/1986	30
Tindal RAAF	41.1	14	40.8	30/12/1986	13
Lajamanu	44	4	43.6	16/12/1972	12
Lajamanu	45	5	44	4/12/2004	13
Channel Point	35.4	16	34.9	6/12/1998	10

Lowest Daily Maximum Temperature (^oC) for December 2004
Station	Record	Date	Previous		Years of record
Station	Record	Date	Record	Date	Years of record
Jabiru Airport	26.2	31	26.3	3/12/1974	25

Highest Monthly Mean Maximum Temperature (^oC) for December 2004
Station	Record	Previous		Years of record
Station	Record	Record	Year	Years of record
Oenpelli	37.4	37.3	1991	40

Highest Daily Minimum Temperature (^oC) for December 2004
Station	Record	Date	Previous		Years of record
Station	Record	Date	Record	Date	Years of record
Maningrida	29.5	12	29	9/12/2002	35
Douglas River	27.3	11	26.4	4/12/1969	12

Note

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Tuesday 4 January 2005. Although every effort has been made to check them, it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available. * indicates unconfirmed reports.

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 from this web site.

Monthly rainfall and temperature maps are also available.

Further climate data and information 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

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