Friday, 2 Decenber 2005

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - NORTHERN TERRITORY

Near Average November Temperatures for the Territory but Warmest 12-Month Period Persists

Overview

After a very warm twelve months across the Territory, monthly mean maximum temperature returned to near normal. Monthly mean minimum temperature continued a warm trend, remaining mostly above average across the Territory. Many centres recorded their warmest 12-month December 2004 to November 2005 period on record in both maximum and minimum temperatures.

Rainfall around the Territory was varied this month, with most parts receiving average or above average amounts and a small number of stations recording highest on record totals. This month’s rainfall combined with good winter rains and above average October falls, has significantly eased long-term rainfall deficiencies across the Territory.

Rainfall

While most of the Territory saw average or above average rainfall, with Birrindudu, Douglas River and Katherine rural College recording highest on record totals, some parts of the central and eastern Top End received very much below average rainfall. Both Gilnockie and The Pines recorded their lowest November rainfall on record.

A strong ridge along the Queensland coast that extended over the eastern Top End during the start of the month, suppressing shower and storm activity, was the main cause of lower than usual November rainfall in the eastern and central Top End. The passage of several significant troughs across the Territory, as well as a significant upper level trough that developed over the Top End during the last week of the month produced the average and above average falls over the remainder of the Territory.

The highest monthly rainfall total was 418.1mm at Howard Springs, while the highest daily rainfall total was 84.8mm also recorded at Howard Springs, on the 20th.

Maximum Temperatures

Although overall monthly mean maximum temperatures were generally close to average over the Territory this November, because of above average mean maximum temperatures in previous months, ten stations scattered around the Territory, including Alice Springs Airport (30.41°C), recorded their hottest December 2004 to November 2005 12-month period on record. The site at Darwin Airport recorded its second hottest December to November period on record (32.8°C), the hottest being the year 1997/1998.

This month there was a reasonably extensive band of 1 to 2°C above average mean maximum temperatures extending from the south of the Victoria district to the southeast of the Alice Springs District. These warmer than normal daytime temperatures were caused by many days of warm tropical northeast to northwest winds, preceding each of the several low-pressure troughs that passed through the Territory. Most centres in the Alice Springs district recorded their hottest temperatures for the month, all above 40°C, on the 25th.

The highest mean daily maximum temperature for the month was 39.7 ° C at Rabbit Flat, while the lowest was 32.8 ° C at Channel Point and Gove Airport. The hottest day was 43 ° C at Jervois on the 25th and the coolest day was 25.8 ° C at Kulgera on the 3rd.

Minimum Temperatures

Monthly mean minimum temperatures were up to 3 degrees warmer than average south of Elliott and close to average north of Elliott. Ali Curung exceeded its previous monthly mean minimum temperature record, while many others stations observed monthly mean minimum temperatures in the hottest 10% of records. Humid northeast to northwest flow and cloudy nights were the cause of the warmer than usual overnight temperatures recorded this month.

The lowest mean daily minimum temperature for the month was 18.4°C at Alice Springs Airport, while the highest was 27.0°C at Warruwi AWS. The coolest night was 11.6°C at Kulgera on the 8th and the warmest night was 29.6°C at Kidman Springs on the 15th.

A table of Territory extremes, some more details and some new records appear below.

Extremes

Weather extremes during November 2005
Highest temperature Hottest day	43 °C	Jervois on the 25th
Highest mean daily maximum temperature Warmest days on average	39.7 °C	Rabbit Flat
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature Coolest days on average	32.8 °C	Channel Point and Gove Airport
Lowest daily maximum temperature Coldest day	25.8 °C	Kulgera on the 3rd
Lowest temperature Coldest night	11.6 °C	Kulgera on the 8th
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature Coldest nights on average	18.4 °C	Alice Springs Airport
Highest mean daily minimum temperature Warmest nights on average	27.0 °C	Warruwi AWS
Highest daily minimum Warmest night	29.6 °C	Kidman Springs on the 15th
Highest total rainfall Wettest overall	418.1 mm	Howard Springs
Highest daily rainfall Wettest day	84.8 mm	Howard Springs on the 20th

Records

Record Highest Total Rainfall for November 2005
	Total rainfall (mm)	Previous highest		Years of record
Katherine Rural College *	246.8	234.2	in 2001	40
Howard Springs	418.1	391.4	in 1964	37
Douglas River *	259.0	241.6	in 1983	31
Birrindudu *	70.2	60.0	in 1994	11

Record Lowest Total Rainfall for November 2005
	Total rainfall (mm)	Previous lowest		Years of record
The Pines *	29.4	38.6	in 1989	34
Gilnockie *	18.0	23.4	in 1994	14

Record Highest Daily Rainfall for November 2005
	Highest daily rainfall (mm)		Previous highest		Years of record
Daly Waters AWS *	80.8	on the 21st	45.2	on the 22nd 1942	31

Record Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for November 2005
	Mean daily maximum temperature (°C)	Previous highest		Years of record
Black Point	33.7	33.6	2003	12

Record Lowest Mean Maximum Temperature for November 2005
	Mean daily maximum temperature (°C)	Previous lowest		Years of record
Douglas River	35.2	35.3	in 1999	13

Record Highest Mean Minimum Temperature for November 2005
	Mean daily minimum temperature (°C)	Previous highest		Years of record
Ali Curung	23.1	23.0	1988	17

Record Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for the 12 Months from December 2004 to November 2005
	Mean daily maximum temperature (°C)	Previous highest		Years of record
Alice Springs Airport *	30.41	30.36	1979/1980	63
Daly Waters AWS	35.3	35.2	2001/2002	31
Centre Island AWS	32.1	32.0	1991/1992	21
Yuendumu	32.0	31.6	1979/1980	19
Elliott	36.5	35.8	1991/1992	16
Kulgera	29.6	29.2	2002/2003	16
Jabiru Airport AWS	35.1	35.0	2002/2003	15
Warruwi AWS	32.0	31.8	1969/1970	15
Tindal RAAF AWS	34.6	34.5	1985/1986	13
Ali Curung	33.1	33.0	1991/1992	12

Record Highest Mean Minimum Temperature for the 12 Months from December 2004 to November 2005
	Mean daily minimum temperature (°C)	Previous highest		Years of record
Ali Curung	18.2	17.6	1997/1998	14
Elliott	20.4	20.2	1997/1998	13

Note

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Friday 2 December 2005. 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.

Climate and Consultancy Section
Northern Territory Regional Office
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3819
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au