Northern Territory in 2024

Rainfall

  • Rainfall totals in 2024 were above to very much above average for most of the Northern Territory, and highest on record for scattered areas of the Top End and north-western Northern Territory.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged rainfall total in 2024 was 898.5 mm, 64% above the 1961–1990 average, the fourth-wettest on record for all years since 1900.
  • It was the wettest year in the Northern Territory since 2011.
  • Several sites had their highest daily rainfall on record.
  • Many sites had their highest total annual rainfall on record.

Temperature

  • Mean maximum temperatures in 2024 were above to very much above average for the northern, eastern and southern Northern Territory and below average for a small region of the central Northern Territory.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 32.6 °C, 0.73 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
  • The Northern Territory had its highest mean maximum temperature for the year since 2021.
  • Watarrka and Maningrida Airport had their hottest day (highest daily maximum temperature) on record.
  • Jervois and Pirlangimpi Airport had their highest annual mean maximum temperature on record.
  • Mean minimum temperatures in 2024 were above to very much above average for most of the Northern Territory and highest on record for the southern areas and a small region of the central Northern Territory.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 19.6 °C, 1.16 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the seventh-warmest on record for all years since 1910.
  • The Northern Territory had its highest mean minimum temperature for the year since 2020.
  • Curtin Springs and Channel Point had their warmest night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
  • Daly Waters Airstrip recorded its coldest night (lowest daily minimum temperature) on record.
  • Yulara Airport and Warruwi Airport had their highest annual mean minimum temperature on record.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean temperature was 26.1 °C, 0.95 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
  • Alice Springs Airport and Yulara Airport had their highest annual mean temperature on record.

Darwin Airport

  • Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 1986.0 mm, which is 115% of the long-term average of 1722.5 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 33.0 °C, which is 0.9 °C above the long-term average of 32.1 °C.
  • The warmest day was 36.9 °C on the 01 Oct 2024, and the coolest day was on the 17 Sep 2024 when the temperature reached 26.8 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 24.0 °C, which is 0.8 °C above the long-term average of 23.2 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 14.7 °C on the 08 Jun 2024, and the warmest morning was on the 01 Jan 2024 when the minimum temperature was 29.9 °C.

Alice Springs Airport

  • Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 364.0 mm, which is 129% of the long-term average of 283.0 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 30.5 °C, which is 1.6 °C above the long-term average of 28.9 °C.
  • The warmest day was 43.4 °C on the 05 Feb 2024, and the coolest day was on the 02 Jul 2024 when the temperature reached 12.7 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 14.3 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term average of 13.2 °C.
  • The coldest morning was -3.1 °C on the 30 Jul 2024, and the warmest morning was on the 24 Jan 2024 when the minimum temperature was 29.6 °C.

Extremes in 2024
Hottest day 46.3 °C at Jervois on 3 January
Warmest days on average 35.3 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence)
Coolest days on average 30.3 °C at McCluer Island
Coldest day 10.5 °C at Arltunga on 1 July
Coldest night -3.0 °C at Alice Springs Airport on 4 July
Coolest nights on average 14.3 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Warmest nights on average 26.3 °C at McCluer Island
Warmest night 32.9 °C at Walungurru Airport on 31 January
Warmest on average overall 29.0 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence)
Coolest on average overall 22.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Wettest overall 2319.5 mm at Tipperary
Wettest day 431.0 mm at Groote Eylandt Airport on 17 March
Strongest wind gust 170.0 km/h at Centre Island on 18 March

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall
Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures
Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures
Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

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Monthly maps
Rainfall rankMaximum temperature rankMinimum temperature rank
January Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
February Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
March Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
April Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
May Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
June Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
July Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
August Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
September Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
October Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
November Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
December Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

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Record highest year daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
year
Anthony Lagoon 249.0 on 19 March 203.7 on 08 Jan 1953 108 496.5
Elliott 189.4 on 24 March 178.0 on 18 Feb 1974 58 575.2
McArthur River Mine Airport 274.4 on 19 March 197.6 on 15 Feb 1974 48 780.6
Birrindudu 137.0 on 22 January 131.2 on 14 Feb 2001 28 610.9
Borroloola Airport 256.6 on 19 March 187.0 on 01 Dec 1999 28 881.3
Delamere Weapons Range 175.6 on 11 March 156.4 on 08 Feb 2011 24 851.8
Groote Eylandt Airport 431.0 on 17 March 313.0 on 02 Mar 2004 24 1275.2
Port Keats Airport 334.8 on 15 January 230.6 on 04 Jan 2008 22 1332.0



Record highest year total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
year
Victoria River Downs 1513.4 1196.8 in 1904 138 653.8
Rosewood 1308.4 1200.8 in 2000 133 645.7
Helen Springs 1177.9 1010.0 in 2001 79 457.1
Elliott 1516.6 1365.0 in 1974 67 534.7
Legune 2104.4 1727.9 in 1966 67 1123.5
Daly Waters Airstrip 1353.6 1182.2 in 2011 56 658.2
Centre Island 2209.2 1955.6 in 2011 56 1023.5
Tennant Creek Airport 1036.4 1004.2 in 2000 55 463.3
Kidman Springs 1554.3 1279.0 in 2000 55 748.6
Douglas River Research Farm 1996.0 1808.0 in 2011 55 1095.0
Montejinni 1462.3 1062.5 in 2011 53 605.3
Cattle Creek 1220.8 908.5 in 1974 45 419.1
Suplejack 1132.9 1076.6 in 2001 42 522.6
Killarney 1429.9 1075.1 in 2000 39 623.8
Bullo River 1632.0 1320.1 in 2017 38 688.7
Mount Sanford 1356.9 1229.9 in 2000 37 672.4
Gilnockie 1443.2 1206.4 in 2004 36 790.1
Wandie Creek 2161.8 1553.4 in 2017 36 947.3
Moolooloo 1280.3 1082.4 in 2003 35 695.1
Birrimba 1275.0 925.7 in 1984 33 543.2
Birrindudu 1362.0 1032.4 in 2011 33 529.7
Moroak 1529.8 1275.5 in 2008 33 706.7
Upper Fergusson River 1861.0 1461.2 in 2008 28 1025.1
Delamere Weapons Range 1820.4 1424.4 in 2003 27 818.9
Bradshaw 1771.2 1479.2 in 2004 26 860.9
Groote Eylandt Airport 1949.4 1819.6 in 2008 25 1243.5
Lakefield 1690.2 1534.2 in 2003 24 930.0
Humbert River 1568.6 1202.0 in 1974 23 648.4
Upper Wickham River 1267.2 1012.6 in 2017 22 575.2
Upper Victoria River 1315.2 1088.4 in 2023 22 650.4
West Waterhouse 1406.2 1255.8 in 2021 22 830.6
Pigeon Hole 1241.0 1158.3 in 2022 21 656.1
Foelsche Headland 1508.2 1471.0 in 2011 21 960.4
Upper Seventeen Mile Creek 1638.0 1586.8 in 2003 21 1051.8
Central Arnhem Plateau 2045.4 1964.6 in 2007 21 1091.1



Record highest year temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
year
Watarrka 46.0 on 24 January =46.0 on 24 Dec 2019 35 30.7
Maningrida Airport 38.5 on 16 December =38.5 on 12 Mar 2015 22 32.4



Record highest year mean maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
year
Jervois 32.3 =32.3 in 2018 36 31.1
Pirlangimpi Airport 33.9 33.8 in 2014 30 32.5



Record highest year daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
year
Curtin Springs 31.6 on 22 January =31.6 on 07 Feb 1994 60 13.6
Channel Point 30.0 on 1 January =30.0 on 16 Dec 2021 31 22.5



Record lowest year temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
year
Daly Waters Airstrip 0.8 on 20 July 1.3 on 22 Jun 1946 57 19.1



Record highest year mean minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
year
Yulara Airport 16.0 15.2 in 2020 23 14.2
Warruwi Airport 25.2 =25.2 in 2010 21 24.4



Record highest year mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
year
Alice Springs Airport 22.4 =22.4 in 2013 81 21.1
Yulara Airport 23.5 =23.5 in 2019 23 22.2




Summary statistics for 2024
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
year
2024
Diff
from
average
Highest for
year
2024
Mean for
year
2024
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
year
2024
Total for
year
2024
Average
for
year
Rank of
year
2024
Fraction of
year
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Airport 33.8 0.0 39.4 03 Sep 2024 22.0 +0.7 10.2 20 Jul 2024 1988.2 1510.8 high 132%
Central Arnhem Plateau 32.4 +0.1 39.5 09 Nov 2024 21.0 +0.4 8.7 19 Jul 2024 2045.4 1159.9 highest 176%
Charles Point 31.6 0.0 36.8 13 Sep 2024 24.5 +0.3 15.5 19 Jul 2024 1755.6 1525.3 high 115%
Croker Island Airport 32.2 +0.1 36.8 22 Sep 2024 24.2 -0.1 16.1 09 Jun 2024 1435.2
Darwin Airport 33.0 +0.9 36.9 01 Oct 2024 24.0 +0.8 14.7 08 Jun 2024 1986.0 1722.5 high 115%
Delamere Weapons Range 33.8 -0.2 42.1 09 Nov 2024 21.4 +0.4 5.5 19 Jul 2024 1820.4 848.3 highest 215%
Douglas River Research Farm 34.7 +0.2 41.6 09 Oct 2024 21.2 +1.2 6.0 20 Jul 2024 1996.0 1228.0 highest 163%
East Point 32.6 37.7 10 Sep 2024 24.3 14.9 18 Jul 2024
Jabiru Airport 35.1 +0.6 41.7 26 Oct 2024 23.6 +0.8 11.8 18 Jul 2024 1603.8 1537.6 average 104%
Kangaroo Flats (Defence) 34.5 40.0 10 Oct 2024 23.0 12.0 08 Jun 2024 2065.8
Knuckey Lagoon 33.6 38.2 01 Oct 2024 22.8 10.6 19 Jul 2024 2043.6
McCluer Island 30.3 +0.1 35.4 16 Dec 2024 26.3 +0.6 19.0 19 Jul 2024 892.0 1151.6 low 77%
Middle Point 34.4 -0.1 39.7 10 Oct 2024 22.2 +1.5 6.8 18 Jul 2024 1674.2 1374.9 high 122%
Mount Bundey North (Defence) 40.5 11 Nov 2024 12.0 19 Jul 2024 734.4
Mount Bundey South (Defence) 34.9 40.6 10 Oct 2024 22.6 9.2 18 Jul 2024 1601.4
Murganella Airstrip 32.9 -0.1 38.5 26 Oct 2024 22.2 +0.7 8.9 18 Jul 2024 1565.4
Noonamah Airstrip 34.5 0.0 39.4 01 Oct 2024 22.7 +0.7 8.3 18 Jul 2024 1913.2 1494.1 highest 128%
Oenpelli Airport 41.6 26 Oct 2024 9.2 18 Jul 2024 1585.8 1380.6 high 115%
Pirlangimpi Airport 33.9 +1.3 38.7 29 Oct 2024 23.3 +0.9 12.5 09 Jun 2024 1463.8 1999.6 v low 73%
Port Keats Airport 33.2 +0.1 38.7 01 Oct 2024 22.9 +0.9 10.9 20 Jul 2024 1710.8 1332.0 high 128%
Tindal RAAF 34.4 +0.2 41.2 11 Nov 2024 21.1 +0.6 6.1 19 Jul 2024 1188.8 1060.6 high 112%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Gove Airport 31.3 36.4 06 Feb 2024 23.9 17.4 15 Jul 2024
Groote Eylandt Airport 32.6 +0.4 39.1 26 Oct 2024 22.1 +1.1 8.1 20 Jul 2024 1949.4 1275.2 highest 153%
Maningrida Airport 32.6 +0.2 38.5 16 Dec 2024 23.2 +0.6 9.6 18 Jul 2024 1041.2 1240.9 low 84%
Milingimbi Airport 32.6 +0.2 37.7 16 Dec 2024 23.7 +0.5 11.5 18 Jul 2024 1604.4 1182.3 high 136%
Ngayawili 37.6 01 Jan 2024 12.6 19 Jul 2024 1008.6 1404.4 low 72%
Warruwi Airport 31.8 +0.4 36.4 04 Dec 2024 25.2 +0.8 17.5 19 Jul 2024 1297.4 1136.0 high 114%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola Airport 42.3 01 Jan 2024 3.1 19 Jul 2024 1010.0 881.3 average 115%
Bulman 34.8 -0.1 41.6 26 Oct 2024 21.0 +0.4 5.7 19 Jul 2024 1752.2 1017.7 high 172%
Centre Island 31.4 +0.1 37.5 02 Jan 2024 24.6 +0.7 15.3 18 Jul 2024 2209.2 1016.9 highest 217%
Daly Waters Airstrip 34.1 0.0 42.7 01 Jan 2024 18.9 -0.2 0.8 20 Jul 2024 1353.6 677.5 highest 200%
McArthur River Mine Airport 42.7 21 Oct 2024 3.7 19 Jul 2024 1157.2 767.9 high 151%
Ngukurr Airport 35.1 -0.5 42.1 02 Jan 2024 22.1 +0.8 5.9 18 Jul 2024 796.2 736.3 average 108%
Victoria (district 14F)
Bradshaw 35.1 -0.5 42.4 09 Nov 2024 22.2 +0.3 5.8 19 Jul 2024 1771.2 985.4 highest 180%
Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) 35.3 43.1 09 Nov 2024 22.8 8.5 19 Jul 2024 1439.0
Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) 35.0 41.4 26 Oct 2024 20.2 2.1 19 Jul 2024 1346.6
Lajamanu Airport 33.8 -0.1 43.0 02 Jan 2024 2.2 19 Jul 2024 956.2 519.0 high 184%
Victoria River Downs 34.8 +0.1 43.8 17 Dec 2024 20.3 +0.7 4.3 20 Jul 2024 1513.4 651.0 highest 232%
Barkly (district 15A)
Elliott 33.3 -1.2 44.0 01 Jan 2024 20.7 +1.4 4.6 20 Jul 2024 1516.6 585.4 highest 259%
Tennant Creek Airport 32.1 0.0 43.3 17 Dec 2024 20.1 +0.2 5.9 20 Jul 2024 1036.4 473.8 highest 219%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 30.5 +1.6 43.4 05 Feb 2024 14.3 +1.1 -3.1 30 Jul 2024 364.0 283.0 high 129%
Arltunga 43.7 05 Feb 2024 -3.7 23 Jun 2024 461.2 300.5 high 153%
Curtin Springs 45.5 22 Feb 2024 -1.7 21 Jul 2024 336.8 236.1 high 143%
Jervois 32.3 +1.2 46.3 03 Jan 2024 16.8 +2.0 0.4 19 Jul 2024 246.8 287.8 average 86%
Rabbit Flat 33.5 -0.4 43.5 02 Jan 2024 17.7 +1.1 1.6 18 Jul 2024 966.4 477.9 high 202%
Territory Grape Farm 31.3 +0.3 43.2 05 Feb 2024 15.5 +0.9 -2.3 04 Jul 2024 423.8 317.6 high 133%
Walungurru Airport 32.9 +0.1 46.0 23 Feb 2024 20.0 +0.5 3.8 05 Jul 2024 446.6 282.0 high 158%
Watarrka 46.0 24 Jan 2024 -3.0 04 Jul 2024 324.0 307.3 average 105%
Yulara Airport 31.1 +0.9 45.2 22 Feb 2024 16.0 +1.8 -1.1 21 Jul 2024 268.2 270.0 high 99%

Notes

The Annual climate summary lists the main features of the weather in the Northern Territory using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated.

This statement has been prepared based on information available on Tuesday 28 January 2025. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases, the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

Creative Commons By Attribution logo Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Climate