Monday, 3 December 2007 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Record hot start to December 2007


Details

“On Sunday night Darwin endured its hottest night for more than 20 years, and its equal hottest night on record. The minimum temperature recorded at the Bureau’s official recording site at Darwin Airport was 29.7C. The previous occurrences of such hot nights occurred on 25 November 1987 and 19 December 1985” said Sam Cleland, the manager of the Bureau’s Climate Services Centre in Darwin.

Mr Cleland said that a complex weather pattern, including a deep heat-low south of the Top End, contributed to the persistent westerly winds over western Top End. “Fresh winds came straight off the warm ocean all night, so those areas north and east of the low didn’t get the chance to cool down” he said. Brunette Downs, in the Barkly region, also recoded its hottest night on record, with a minimum temperature of 31.2C

Mr Cleland said that the deep heat-low has also created a pattern suitable for hot days over large parts of the Territory, with hot northeasterly winds ahead of it. “Several stations throughout the Territory have recorded their hottest December day, while Tennant Creek, Wave Hill and Ali Curung recoded their hottest day ever.” Mr Cleland said.

Tables of significant temperature records broken are included below.

Senior forecaster Sally Cutter said the hot days and warm nights were set to persist for a couple of days yet, when storms over the Top End should start to become more frequent.

Some sites had their highest December maximum temperature on record.

Some sites had their warmest December night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

Some sites had their highest maximum temperature on record for any month.

Some sites had their warmest night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record for any month.

Further information

Sam Cleland
Manager NT Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au

Records

Record highest maximum temperature for December 2007
  Highest temperature
(°C)		 Previous highest Years of
record
Brunette Downs
45.5
on the 2nd
45.2
on the 23rd in 1990
42
Larrimah
43.5
on the 2nd
43.1
on the 22nd in 1986
41
Tennant Creek Airport
45.4
on the 2nd
44.7
on the 23rd in 1990
38
Daly Waters AWS
44.3
on the 2nd
43.1
on the 16th in 1939
37
Wave Hill
45.2
on the 2nd
44.7
on the 31st in 1990
34
Yuendumu
44.6
on the 2nd
44.0
on the 6th in 1981
33
Elliott
46.5
on the 2nd
46.0
on the 26th in 1989
26
Ali Curung
46.0
on the 2nd
44.8
on the 22nd in 1990
17
Borroloola AWS
42.9
on the 2nd
42.5
on the 27th in 2002
10


Record highest daily minimum temperature for December 2007
  Highest daily minimum
temperature
(°C)		 Previous highest Years of
record
Darwin Airport
29.7
on the 3rd
= 29.7
on the 19th in 1985
66
Brunette Downs
31.2
on the 3rd
30.1
on the 1st in 1996
42
Pirlangimpi AWS
29.0
on the 3rd
28.5
on the 31st in 1990
24
Lajamanu AWS
30.1
on the 2nd
30.0
on the 24th in 2005
14
Channel Point
29.5
on the 3rd
= 29.5
on the 11th in 2003
13


Record highest maximum temperature for any month
  Highest temperature
(°C)		 Previous highest Years of
record
Larrimah
43.5
on the 2nd of Dec
= 43.5
on the 17th of Nov 1975
37
Tennant Creek Airport
45.4
on the 2nd of Dec
44.7
on the 23rd of Dec 1990
37
Brunette Downs
45.5
on the 2nd of Dec
= 45.5
on the 19th of Feb 1983
34
Elliott
46.5
on the 2nd of Dec
46.0
on the 26th of Dec 1989
19
Ali Curung
46.0
on the 2nd of Dec
45.0
on the 29th of Jan 1990
15


Record highest daily minimum temperature for any month
  Highest daily minimum
temperature
(°C)		 Previous highest Years of
record
Darwin Airport
29.7
on the 3rd of Dec
= 29.7

on the 25th of Nov 1987
and the 19th of Dec 1985
62
Brunette Downs
31.2
on the 3rd of Dec
31.0
on the 3rd of Jan 1994
27


Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 1 pm on Monday 3 December 2007. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.