Monday, 1 December 2008 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0
Wet in the south. Hot everywhere - Northern Territory in November 2008
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Summary
Darwin experienced a hot November, with few rain days and less rainfall than normal. Maximum and minimum temperatures were, on average, both about 1 degree above normal. The mean temperature at Darwin (average of all maximums and minimums) was 30.2°C, hotter than any month since December 1991 and the fourth hottest month on record. There were more hot days in Darwin than usual, with 9 days recording a temperature of 35°C or more, which is more than any previous November. The previous record was 8 days in November 1979. There were also more hot nights than usual, with 25 nights not falling below 25°C, as many as any previous November.
The Alice Springs region saw numerous severe thunderstorms during the month, with the Alice Springs Airport seeing it’s highest on record rainfall for November.
Rainfall
Record high rainfall totals were observed over much of the southern third of the Territory, including Alice Springs. Most rainfall come from widespread thunderstorm activity, and several severe storms were observed and related damage reported. Above average falls were reported over much of the southern half, and below average falls were reported over the northern Top End.
The wettest overall was 259.2 mm at Pirlangimpi AWS, followed by 243.0 mm at Darwin River Dam, followed by 226.0 mm at Larrimah.
Some sites had their highest total November rainfall on record.
Some sites had their lowest total November rainfall on record.
The wettest single day was 115.8 mm at Palm Valley on the 16th, followed by 104.6 mm at Pirlangimpi AWS on the 22nd, followed by 90.0 mm at Dum In Mirrie AWS on the 22nd.
Maximum temperature
The monthly average temperature in the Alice Springs district was cooler than average, though there was considerable variability, with some hot days interspersed with cloudy days with shower and thunderstorm activity. The northern two-thirds of the Territory was mostly warmer than average.
The hottest day was 45.2°C at Wave Hill on the 13th, followed by 45.0°C at Elliott on the 22nd and the 23rd, followed by 44.5°C at Elliott on the 21st.
The warmest days on average were 40.8°C at Elliott, followed by 39.6°C at Bulman AWS and Daly Waters AWS, followed by 39.4°C at Ngukurr and Victoria River Downs.
The coolest days on average were 30.2°C at Kulgera, followed by 32.0°C at Arltunga, followed by 32.1°C at Alice Springs Airport.
The coldest day was 19.7°C at Arltunga on the 8th, followed by 20.5°C at Kulgera on the 1st, followed by 20.9°C at Curtin Springs on the 16th.
Some sites had their highest November temperature on record.
Some sites had their coldest November day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.
Some sites had their highest November mean daily maximum temperature on record.
Minimum temperature
Minimum temperatures were above average over all of the Territory this November. In southern parts this was likely due to a high number of cloudy nights. In the northwest, persistent onshore westerly winds contributed to the high night-time temperatures.
The coldest night was 10.0°C at Kulgera on the 8th, followed by 10.4°C at Arltunga on the 9th, followed by 10.9°C at Arltunga on the 11th.
The coolest nights on average were 17.5°C at Kulgera, followed by 19.1°C at Yulara Aero AWS, followed by 19.2°C at Arltunga.
The warmest nights on average were 27.5°C at Centre Island.
The warmest night was 30.7°C at Elliott on the 23rd, followed by 30.5°C at Port Keats Aero AWS on the 26th, followed by 30.3°C at Wave Hill on the 23rd.
Some sites had their warmest November night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
Some sites had their highest November mean daily minimum temperature on record.
Further information
NT Climate Services CentreBureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au
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Extremes
| Hottest day Highest temperature |
45.2°C at Wave Hill on the 13th |
|---|---|
| Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature | 40.8°C at Elliott |
| Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature | 30.2°C at Kulgera |
| Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature | 19.7°C at Arltunga on the 8th |
| Coldest night Lowest temperature | 10.0°C at Kulgera on the 8th |
| Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature | 17.5°C at Kulgera |
| Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature | 27.5°C at Centre Island |
| Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature | 30.7°C at Elliott on the 23rd |
| Wettest overall Highest total rainfall |
259.2 mm at Pirlangimpi AWS |
| Wettest day Highest daily rainfall | 115.8 mm at Palm Valley on the 16th |
| Highest wind gust |
98 km/h at Yulara Aero AWS on the 18th |
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Records
| Record highest total November rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total rainfall (mm) | Previous highest | Years of record |
Average | ||
| Undoolya | 180.6 | 142.2 | in 1977 | 79 | 23.3 |
| Ngukurr | 121.8 | 120.0 | in 1997 | 73 | 40.8 |
| Alice Springs Airport | 159.6 | 132.6 | in 2002 | 67 | 26.7 |
| Curtin Springs | 92.7 | 88.5 | in 1971 | 54 | 21.5 |
| Daly Waters AWS | 136.6 | 132.1 | in 1955 | 31 | 41.3 |
| Kulgera | 129.5 | 74.7 | in 2000 | 37 | 21.7 |
| Palm Valley | 160.6 | 130.2 | in 2000 | 25 | 36.8 |
| Wallace Rock Hole | 119.6 | 75.2 | in 2000 | 22 | 29.5 |
| Gilnockie | 181.0 | 129.5 | in 1991 | 20 | 59.9 |
| Coolibah | 106.4 | 82.8 | in 2001 | 10 | 33.7 |
| Record lowest total November rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total rainfall (mm) | Previous lowest | Years of record |
Average | ||
| Berrimah Research Farm | 25.6 | 33.0 | in 1969 | 38 | 130.3 |
| The Pines | 26.8 | 38.6 | in 1989 | 36 | 126.3 |
| Karama | 40.2 | 49.6 | in 2006 | 20 | 119.8 |
| Litchfield | 20.6 | 25.1 | in 1969 | 18 | 125.6 |
| Palmerston | 19.1 | 43.0 | in 1994 | 16 | 142.9 |
| Record highest November temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest temperature (°C) | Previous highest | Years of record |
Average | |||
| Elliott | 45.0 | on the 23rd | = 45.0 | on the 21st in 1990 | 26 | 39.0 |
| Pirlangimpi AWS | 36.2 | on the 9th | = 36.2 | on the 22nd in 2000 | 24 | 33.3 |
| Black Point | 35.5 | on the 9th | 35.2 | on the 24th in 2003 | 15 | 33.1 |
| Record lowest November daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum temperature (°C) |
Previous lowest | Years of record |
Average | |||
| Douglas River | 28.1 | on the 18th | 30.5 | on the 25th in 1968 | 16 | 36.8 |
| Record highest November mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature (°C) |
Previous highest | Years of record |
Average | ||
| Gove Airport | 33.8 | = 33.8 | in 1967 | 29 | 33.0 |
| Borroloola AWS | 38.6 | 38.3 | in 2007 | 12 | 37.3 |
| Record highest November daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature (°C) |
Previous highest | Years of record |
Average | |||
| Gove Airport | 28.2 | on the 23rd | = 28.2 | on the 26th in 1998 | 29 | 23.4 |
| Batchelor Aero AWS | 26.9 | on the 23rd | 26.1 | on the 18th in 2004 | 11 | 23.9 |
| Bradshaw AWS | 29.0 | on the 23rd | = 29.0 | on the 28th in 2003 | 10 | 25.5 |
| Dum In Mirrie AWS | 30.2 | on the 21st | 30.0 | on the 23rd in 1998 | 10 | 26.1 |
| Point Fawcett AWS | 29.8 | on the 25th | 29.0 | on the 19th in 2001 | 10 | 25.4 |
| Record highest November mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature (°C) |
Previous highest | Years of record |
Average | ||
| Jervois | 22.2 | 21.3 | in 2002 | 38 | 18.7 |
| Tindal RAAF AWS | 26.1 | 26.0 | in 1988 | 19 | 25.0 |
| Douglas River | 24.6 | = 24.6 | in 2003 | 18 | 23.4 |
| Borroloola AWS | 25.2 | 24.8 | in 1998 | 11 | 23.9 |
| Bradshaw AWS | 26.5 | = 26.5 | in 2006 | 10 | 25.5 |
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Summaries
This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.
| Summary statistics for November 2008 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean | Diff from average |
Highest | Mean | Diff from average |
Lowest | Total | Rank | Fraction of November average |
||||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Aero AWS | 36.0 | +0.5 | 39.4 | 8th | 24.5 | +0.6 | 22.8 | 19th | 130.0 | average | 95% | |
| Black Point | 33.4 | +0.3 | 35.5 | 9th | 26.2 | +0.5 | 22.6 | 1st | 114.9 | high | 180% | |
| Bradshaw AWS | 39.0 | +0.9 | 41.5 | 23rd | 26.5 | +1.0 | 22.9 | 27th | 150.8 | high | 130% | |
| Cape Don AWS | 32.8 | 35.5 | 8th | 26.5 | 22.4 | 11th | 149.6 | high | 155% | |||
| Darwin Airport | 34.2 | +1.0 | 35.9 | 14th | 26.2 | +0.9 | 23.4 | 30th | 54.6 | very low | 40% | |
| Douglas River | 37.4 | +0.6 | 40.2 | 5th | 24.6 | +1.1 | 23.0 | 19th | 106.2 | average | 90% | |
| Dum In Mirrie AWS | 33.1 | +0.1 | 34.3 | 20th | 26.6 | +0.5 | 23.0 | 12th | 203.4 | high | 168% | |
| Jabiru Airport AWS | 37.5 | +0.7 | 40.0 | 8th | 25.7 | +0.8 | 23.0 | 9th | 128.0 | average | 87% | |
| Katherine Aviation Museum | 38.4 | +1.0 | 40.3 | 21st | 25.4 | +0.7 | 22.2 | 11th | 57.9 | low | 65% | |
| Mango Farm | 36.5 | +0.2 | 38.5 | 11th | 23.8 | +0.3 | 22.0 | 7th | 129.2 | average | 101% | |
| McCluer Island AWS | 32.4 | 34.3 | 25th | 27.8 | 23.8 | 10th | 47.4 | high | 174% | |||
| Middle Point AWS | 36.7 | 39.4 | 8th | 23.8 | 21.6 | 3rd | 83.6 | |||||
| Pine Creek Council | 36.5 | 39.1 | 6th | 24.8 | 22.1 | 19th | 91.2 | |||||
| Pirlangimpi AWS | 36.2 | 9th | 24.7 | +0.6 | 23.7 | 2nd | 259.2 | high | 134% | |||
| Point Fawcett AWS | 32.8 | −0.3 | 34.9 | 9th | 25.3 | −0.1 | 22.7 | 19th | 95.0 | average | 83% | |
| Port Keats Aero AWS | 36.4 | 10th | 26.9 | 23.0 | 9th | 92.2 | ||||||
| Tindal RAAF AWS | 38.4 | +1.3 | 40.5 | 20th | 26.1 | +1.2 | 22.5 | 24th | 136.8 | high | 138% | |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Alyangula Police | 34.1 | +0.1 | 36.8 | 21st | 26.2 | +0.8 | 22.4 | 8th | 33.2 | average | 58% | |
| Gove Airport | 33.8 | +0.7 | 36.4 | 28th | 24.9 | +1.4 | 21.9 | 2nd | 2.2 | average | 5% | |
| Groote Eylandt Airport AWS | 35.9 | 39.3 | 21st | 25.1 | 21.1 | 4th | 60.6 | |||||
| Maningrida Aero AWS | 34.2 | 36.4 | 10th | 26.0 | 23.0 | 24th | 44.2 | |||||
| Milingimbi AWS | 34.1 | 36.2 | 22nd | 26.4 | 23.4 | 30th | 52.2 | |||||
| Ngayawili AWS | 33.7 | 36.6 | 10th | 25.7 | 21.8 | 4th | 3.4 | |||||
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola AWS | 38.6 | +1.3 | 42.6 | 22nd | 25.2 | +1.3 | 21.9 | 11th | 41.8 | average | 53% | |
| Bulman AWS | 39.6 | 41.6 | 24th | 24.5 | 21.4 | 11th | 29.4 | |||||
| Centre Island AWS | 35.2 | +0.7 | 37.1 | 20th | 27.5 | +0.7 | 24.3 | 23rd | 29.0 | average | 76% | |
| Daly Waters AWS | 39.6 | +1.5 | 42.5 | 21st | 24.7 | +0.9 | 19.6 | 11th | 136.6 | highest | 331% | |
| Larrimah | 38.4 | +0.5 | 40.6 | 25th | 25.0 | +0.6 | 22.1 | 9th | 226.0 | very high | 354% | |
| McArthur River Mine | 39.3 | +0.7 | 42.2 | 22nd | 26.1 | +2.1 | 23.0 | 11th | 5.2 | very low | 10% | |
| Ngukurr | 39.4 | +0.3 | 42.1 | 25th | 26.3 | +1.4 | 23.5 | 9th | 121.8 | highest | 299% | |
| Wollogorang | 37.7 | +0.1 | 41.5 | 7th | 24.1 | +1.7 | 21.4 | 11th | 125.3 | very high | 194% | |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Kidman Springs | 38.8 | −0.2 | 41.6 | 4th | 25.9 | +0.9 | 20.6 | 11th | 109.9 | high | 196% | |
| Lajamanu AWS | 37.8 | −0.4 | 42.8 | 1st | 24.4 | +1.3 | 17.9 | 11th | 108.4 | very high | 297% | |
| Timber Creek | 38.7 | +0.3 | 42.0 | 25th | 25.7 | +0.5 | 20.3 | 11th | 193.7 | very high | 246% | |
| Victoria River Downs | 39.4 | +1.0 | 43.1 | 21st | 25.9 | +1.4 | 18.6 | 11th | 48.8 | average | 83% | |
| Wave Hill | 39.1 | +0.5 | 45.2 | 13th | 25.2 | +1.4 | 16.8 | 11th | 129.7 | very high | 230% | |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Elliott | 40.8 | +1.8 | 45.0 | 23rd | 24.8 | +1.4 | 19.0 | 9th | 52.0 | average | 112% | |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 37.0 | +0.6 | 42.0 | 22nd | 24.7 | +1.0 | 17.0 | 9th | 86.2 | very high | 234% | |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 32.1 | −1.6 | 40.9 | 13th | 19.6 | +1.7 | 11.0 | 9th | 159.6 | highest | 598% | |
| Arltunga | 32.0 | 39.9 | 13th | 19.2 | 10.4 | 9th | 115.1 | very high | 388% | |||
| Curtin Springs | 32.8 | −1.6 | 40.9 | 27th | 19.3 | +1.5 | 13.0 | 8th | 92.7 | highest | 431% | |
| Jervois | 35.4 | −0.6 | 41.7 | 13th | 22.2 | +3.5 | 17.5 | 30th | 65.6 | very high | 290% | |
| Kulgera | 30.2 | −3.2 | 40.6 | 27th | 17.5 | −0.8 | 10.0 | 8th | 129.5 | highest | 597% | |
| Papunya | 35.4 | 42.1 | 13th | 12.5 | 9th | 70.3 | very high | 214% | ||||
| Rabbit Flat | 39.1 | +0.3 | 43.7 | 13th | 23.7 | +1.6 | 17.2 | 12th | 49.6 | high | 149% | |
| Territory Grape Farm AWS | 34.9 | −0.6 | 41.3 | 14th | 20.5 | +2.1 | 12.0 | 9th | 54.2 | high | 163% | |
| Watarrka | 33.7 | −1.4 | 39.5 | 13th | 20.3 | +0.4 | 12.5 | 9th | 111.4 | high | 251% | |
| Yulara Aero AWS | 33.4 | −1.6 | 40.9 | 27th | 19.1 | +0.9 | 11.9 | 8th | 59.0 | high | 182% | |
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Notes
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Monday 1 December 2008. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
Averages are long-term means based on observations from
the years 1800 to 2007.
They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record in that time, 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.
Further information
NT Climate Services CentreBureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au