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MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Territory’s Top End saw three tropical lows during the month. The first two moved to the southwest and eventually developed into Tropical Cyclones Clare and Daryl, off the West Australian coast. The third low also intensified but moved inland, and brought substantial rainfall totals to the Barkly and Victoria River districts. Many new extreme rainfall records were established. Around the end of the month, minor flooding was reported on parts of the Daly River, with major flooding of the Victoria River. Meanwhile much of the Alice Springs district missed out on the rain, but experienced protracted hot weather in the easterly winds south of the monsoon trough, smashing some long-standing hot mean temperature and hot-spell records. See the tables below. The observing site at Jervois recorded the hottest night ever recorded in the Territory, with the minimum not falling below 33.7oC on 5 January.
Darwin received near-average rainfall for the month of January, with the vigorous monsoon westerly winds persistently strong. The average wind speed recorded for the month at Darwin was higher than has been recorded for any month since February 2002.
Weather extremes during January 2006 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Highest temperature Hottest day |
45.8 °C | Elliott on the 10th | |
Highest mean daily maximum temperature Warmest days on average |
41.2 °C | Curtin Springs | |
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature Coolest days on average |
30.0 °C | Central Arnhem Plateau AWS | |
Lowest daily maximum temperature Coldest day |
24.2 °C | Tennant Creek Airport on the 19th | |
Lowest temperature Coldest night |
18.5 °C | Yuendumu on the 26th | |
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature Coldest nights on average |
23.0 °C | Central Arnhem Plateau AWS | |
Highest mean daily minimum temperature Warmest nights on average |
27.0 °C | Jervois | |
Highest daily minimum Warmest night |
33.7 °C | Jervois on the 5th | |
Highest total rainfall Wettest overall |
746.4 mm | Channel Point | |
Highest daily rainfall Wettest day |
239.0 mm | Suplejack on the 31st | |
Record Highest Total Rainfall for January 2006 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall (mm) |
Previous highest | Years of record |
||
Lajamanu AWS |
576.4 |
391.2 |
in 1984 |
44 |
Elliott* |
522.4 |
373.2 |
in 1997 |
43 |
Bullita* |
424.4 |
364.2 |
in 1976 |
35 |
Tennant Creek Airport* |
357.4 |
280.2 |
in 1981 |
35 |
Ucharonidge* |
341.0 |
274.8 |
in 1968 |
33 |
Wave Hill* |
510.2 |
324.0 |
in 1987 |
32 |
Jabiru Airport AWS |
611.0 |
599.4 |
in 2001 |
25 |
Suplejack* |
645.2 |
347.9 |
in 1991 |
24 |
Record Highest Daily Rainfall for January 2006 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest daily rainfall (mm) |
Previous highest | Years of record |
||||
Lajamanu AWS |
171.0 |
on the 30th |
165.0 |
on the 23rd in 1987 |
39 |
|
Bullita* |
144.0 |
on the 29th |
112.0 |
on the 4th in 1976 |
34 |
|
Centre Island AWS |
223.4 |
on the 18th |
198.6 |
on the 27th in 1993 |
27 |
|
Suplejack* |
239.0 |
on the 31st |
122.0 |
on the 27th in 1991 |
24 |
|
Record Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for January 2006 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature (°C) |
Previous highest | Years of record |
||
Alice Springs Airport |
40.0 |
39.2 |
in 1994 |
64 |
Curtin Springs |
41.2 |
40.1 |
in 1979 |
40 |
Kulgera |
40.5 |
38.8 |
in 2001 |
25 |
Yulara Aero AWS |
40.4 |
40.1 |
in 1985 |
18 |
Watarrka |
40.5 |
40.3 |
in 1994 |
15 |
Record Lowest Mean Maximum Temperature for January 2006 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum (°C) |
Previous lowest | Years of record |
||
Mango Farm |
31.6 |
31.9 |
in 1997 |
23 |
Douglas River AWS |
32.0 |
32.5 |
in 1997 |
11 |
Record Highest Temperature for January 2006 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest temperature (°C) |
Previous highest |
Years of record |
||||
Elliott |
45.8 |
on the10th |
44.7 |
on the1st in 1991 |
25 |
|
Record Lowest Daily Maximum Temperature for January 2006 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum (°C) |
Previous lowest | Years of record |
||||
Tennant Creek Airport |
24.2 |
on the 19th |
24.5 |
on the13th in 2002 |
36 |
|
Rabbit Flat |
24.9 |
on the 31st |
25.4 |
on the 23rd in 1986 |
35 |
|
Record Highest Mean Daily Minimum Temperature for January 2006 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature (°C) |
Previous highest | Years of record |
||
Alice Springs Airport |
26.3 |
24.1 |
in 1973 |
64 |
Curtin Springs |
26.9 |
24.4 |
in 2001 |
39 |
Jervois |
27.0 |
25.4 |
in 2004 |
34 |
Kulgera |
26.6 |
24.5 |
in 2001 |
25 |
Yulara Aero AWS |
26.7 |
24.4 |
in 1998 |
18 |
Watarrka |
26.4 |
25.4 |
in 1998 |
15 |
Territory Grape Farm AWS |
23.9 |
23.2 |
in 1999 |
11 |
Record Highest Daily Minimum Temperature for January 2006 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature (°C) |
Previous highest | Years of record |
||||
Curtin Springs |
31.4 |
on the 4th |
31.2 |
on the 5th in 2004 |
39 |
|
Jervois |
33.7 |
on the 5th |
32.9 |
on the 7th in 2004 |
32 |
|
Black Point |
29.5 |
on the 11th |
29.4 |
on the 28th in 2002 |
14 |
|
Record Lowest Temperature for January 2006 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest temperature (°C) |
Previous lowest | Years of record |
||||
Mango Farm |
20.2 |
on the 11th |
20.7 |
on the 7th in 2003 |
23 |
|
The table below highlights the recent hot spell experienced in central Australia. It shows the number of consecutive days and nights where the temperature was equal to or above a range of temperatures thresholds, as recorded at the observing site at Alice Springs.
Record Spell of Hot Nights at Alice Springs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature Threshold (oC) | Current Hot Night Spell | Previous Record | ||||
| First Date | Last Date | Consecutive Days | Consecutive Days | First Date | Last Date | |
| 19 | 26 Dec 2005 | Ongoing | 38 | 36# | 20 Jan 1992 | 24 Feb 1992 |
| 20 | 26 Dec 2005 | Ongoing | 38 | 36 | 20 Jan 1992 | 24 Feb 1992 |
| 21 | 28 Dec 2005 | Ongoing | 36 | 36 | 20 Jan 1992 | 24 Feb 1992 |
| 22 | 29 Dec 2005 | Ongoing | 35 | 31 | 13 Jan 1993 | 12 Feb 1993 |
| 23 | 01 Jan 2006 | Ongoing | 32 | 18 | 19 Jan 1973 | 05 Feb 1973 |
| 24 | 10 Jan 2006 | 25 Jan 2006 | 16 | 13 | 19 Jan 1973 | 31 Jan 1973 |
| 25 | 11 Jan 2006 | 22 Jan 2006 | 12 | 10 | 20 Jan 1967 | 29 Jan 1967 |
| 30 | 05 Jan 2006 | 07 Jan 2006 | 3 | 2# | 18 Jan 2000 | 19 Jan 2000 |
Record Spell of Hot Days at Alice Springs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature Threshold (oC) | Current Hot Days Spell | Previous Record | ||||
| First Date | Last Date | Consecutive Days | Consecutive Days | First Date | Last Date | |
| 36 | 31 Dec 2005 | Ongoing | 32 | 28 | 07 Jan 1985 | 03 Feb 1985 |
| 37 | 31 Dec 2005 | Ongoing | 32 | 24 | 11 Jan 1985 | 03 Feb 1985 |
| 37.8 (100°F) | 31 Dec 2005 | 18 Jan 2006 | 19 | =19 | 19 Dec 1972 | 06 Jan 1973 |
| 40 | 01 Jan 2006 | 12 Jan 2006 | 12 | =12 | 04 Jan 1971 | 15 Jan 1971 |
| 41 | 02 Jan 2006 | 12 Jan 2006 | 11 | 8 | 08 Jan 1971 | 15 Jan 1971 |
# Previous record occurred more than once, most recent occurrence given.
Summary statistics for January 2006 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (mm) |
||||||
| Mean | Difference from normal | Highest | Mean | Difference from normal | Lowest | Total | Normal total | |
Ali Curung |
36.7 |
-1.4 |
43.7 |
24.9 |
+1.1 |
22.5 |
127 |
73 |
Alice Springs Airport |
40.0 |
+3.7 |
42.9 |
26.3 |
+5.0 |
23.1 |
12 |
38 |
Alyangula Police |
32.8 |
-0.2 |
35.5 |
26.1 |
+0.3 |
23.5 |
292 |
216 |
Arltunga |
38.5 |
41.8 |
25.5 |
22.5 |
13 |
39 |
||
Batchelor Aero AWS |
30.8 |
-2.2 |
34.5 |
23.9 |
0.0 |
21.8 |
639 |
251 |
Black Point |
31.0 |
-0.4 |
32.9 |
26.1 |
+0.4 |
23.5 |
433 |
300 |
Borroloola AWS |
34.3 |
+0.6 |
41.9 |
25.0 |
+0.2 |
23.4 |
148 |
214 |
Brunette Downs |
35.6 |
-1.4 |
44.2 |
25.4 |
+1.0 |
22.7 |
207 |
104 |
Cape Don AWS |
31.1 |
32.9 |
25.6 |
22.2 |
323 |
205 |
||
Centre Island |
33.2 |
-0.4 |
39.2 |
26.4 |
-0.3 |
22.6 |
545 |
211 |
Channel Point |
30.6 |
-1.1 |
33.0 |
24.5 |
-0.4 |
22.4 |
746 |
408 |
Curtin Springs |
41.2 |
+3.6 |
43.5 |
26.9 |
+5.0 |
24.5 |
10 |
30 |
Daly Waters AWS |
34.6 |
-1.2 |
41.0 |
24.0 |
0.0 |
22.0 |
318 |
145 |
Darwin Airport |
31.0 |
-0.8 |
34.9 |
25.0 |
+0.2 |
23.2 |
410 |
422 |
Delamere Weapons Range AWS |
33.1 |
37.0 |
23.6 |
21.0 |
386 |
|||
Douglas River AWS |
32.0 |
-1.9 |
35.4 |
24.3 |
+0.4 |
23.0 |
321 |
275 |
Dum In Mirrie AWS |
32.8 |
23.6 |
218 |
|||||
Elliott |
35.6 |
-2.1 |
45.8 |
24.5 |
+0.4 |
22.5 |
522 |
126 |
Gove Airport |
31.1 |
-0.9 |
34.1 |
24.9 |
+0.2 |
22.9 |
269 |
288 |
Jabiru Airport AWS |
32.5 |
-1.0 |
36.3 |
24.4 |
-0.2 |
21.6 |
611 |
357 |
Jervois |
40.8 |
+2.6 |
45.0 |
27.0 |
+4.6 |
24.0 |
9 |
46 |
Katherine Aviation Museum |
32.8 |
-2.0 |
37.5 |
24.0 |
-0.3 |
21.7 |
294 |
272 |
Kidman Springs |
34.0 |
-2.0 |
41.1 |
25.1 |
+0.3 |
21.8 |
267 |
162 |
Kulgera |
40.5 |
+4.0 |
44.1 |
26.6 |
+4.9 |
23.0 |
20 |
32 |
Lajamanu AWS |
34.4 |
-2.6 |
43.0 |
24.1 |
+0.2 |
22.0 |
576 |
138 |
Larrimah |
33.5 |
-1.8 |
38.2 |
24.0 |
0.0 |
22.0 |
251 |
209 |
Mango Farm |
31.6 |
-2.0 |
35.3 |
23.8 |
0.0 |
20.2 |
481 |
327 |
Maningrida |
32.0 |
-0.4 |
35.6 |
25.1 |
+0.4 |
23.5 |
430 |
271 |
McArthur River Mine |
35.2 |
-0.5 |
43.3 |
25.4 |
+0.8 |
24.0 |
316 |
196 |
Ngukurr |
35.3 |
-0.4 |
41.1 |
25.3 |
+0.4 |
23.1 |
184 |
178 |
Oenpelli |
34.3 |
22.3 |
354 |
341 |
||||
Papunya |
39.1 |
43.5 |
25.0 |
20.9 |
26 |
44 |
||
Point Fawcett AWS |
30.9 |
32.9 |
25.4 |
22.6 |
472 |
329 |
||
Rabbit Flat |
36.1 |
-2.7 |
43.4 |
24.9 |
+0.7 |
22.3 |
305 |
|
Tennant Creek Airport |
34.2 |
-2.6 |
43.6 |
24.5 |
-0.4 |
21.4 |
357 |
99 |
Territory Grape Farm AWS |
38.0 |
+0.3 |
43.0 |
23.9 |
+2.6 |
22.0 |
58 |
42 |
Timber Creek |
34.2 |
-1.9 |
40.3 |
24.2 |
-0.8 |
21.7 |
419 |
228 |
Tindal RAAF AWS |
32.4 |
-1.7 |
36.4 |
24.2 |
+0.1 |
22.0 |
275 |
270 |
Victoria River Downs |
34.1 |
-2.6 |
41.6 |
24.8 |
-0.1 |
22.1 |
268 |
150 |
Warruwi AWS |
31.8 |
-0.2 |
35.0 |
25.6 |
0.0 |
24.0 |
208 |
266 |
Watarrka |
40.5 |
+2.1 |
44.0 |
26.4 |
+3.0 |
21.6 |
3 |
34 |
Wave Hill |
34.4 |
-2.8 |
44.6 |
24.3 |
0.0 |
22.6 |
510 |
136 |
Wollogorang |
34.0 |
-1.0 |
43.6 |
25.1 |
+0.9 |
23.1 |
512 |
200 |
Yuendumu |
36.5 |
+0.2 |
42.8 |
23.2 |
+0.7 |
18.5 |
129 |
62 |
Yulara Aero AWS |
40.4 |
+2.0 |
43.0 |
26.7 |
+4.5 |
23.3 |
57 |
25 |
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Wednesday 1 February. Although every effort has been made to verify the data, it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
* denotes that one or more observations missing, or that the data is unconfirmed
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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