Monday, 2 March 2009 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0
February 2009 Monsoon reaches central parts of the Territory
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Summary
Whole of Territory averages …- Maximum Temperature: 34.7°C, which was 0.7°C below the long-term average. Minimum Temperature: 23.4°C, which was 0.2°C below the long-term average, and the lowest February value since 1990
- Rainfall: 110.8 mm, 11.5 mm below the long-term average.
The monsoon trough was quite active around the base of the Territory’s Top End during the first half of the month, bringing some substantial rainfalls from the Victoria River district and across to the northern Queensland border regions. Later in the month the trough moved northward and was generally less active, being near the far north coast for much of the latter half of February.
Darwin Airport recorded 495.8 mm of rain over 26 rain-days during February, more than the long-term mean of 364.8 mm over 20.5 rain days. The wet season rainfall total to the end of February at Darwin Airport is 1404 mm, compared to the long-term average of 1239 mm
Rainfall
Rainfall associated with the monsoon trough brought widespread rainfall over the Darwin-Daly, Arnhem, Victoria River and Roper McArthur districts. There were some heavy falls over parts of the Barkly district also, particularly close to the Queensland border during the second week of February. Further south the monsoon had little direct influence, and rainfall was below average over most of the Alice Springs district and southwestern parts of the Barkly district.
The wettest overall was 648.2 mm at Fanny Creek, followed by 637.6 mm at Bullita, followed by 609.2 mm at Coolibah.
Some sites had their highest total February rainfall on record.
The wettest single day 179.8 mm at Milingimbi AWS on the 18th, followed by 160.3 mm at Bullita on the 4th, followed by 159.8 mm at Ngayawili AWS on the 18th.
Some sites had their highest February daily rainfall on record.
Temperature
The rain and cloud in the northern parts of the Territory contributed to mostly below average temperatures during the month. Temperatures were higher than normal in southern parts of the Territory, consistent with higher temperatures recorded over much of the southern half of the country.
Maximum temperature
Maximum temperatures were below average over much of the northern half; the area influenced by weather associated with the monsoon trough. To the south clear sunny days prevailed and warmer than average temperatures resulted.
The hottest day was 44.2°C at Yulara Aero AWS on the 6th, followed by 44.0°C at Curtin Springs on the 6th, followed by 43.6°C at Curtin Springs on the 5th and Kulgera and Walungurru AWS on the 6th.
The warmest days on average were 40.1°C at Walungurru AWS, followed by 38.5°C at Yulara Aero AWS, followed by 38.4°C at Curtin Springs.
The coolest days on average were 30.3°C at McCluer Island AWS, followed by 30.5°C at Cape Don AWS, followed by 30.7°C at Dum In Mirrie AWS.
The coldest day was 24.5°C at Lajamanu AWS on the 12th, followed by 25.5°C at Brunette Downs on the 11th and Victoria River Downs on the 12th, followed by 25.9°C at Wave Hill on the 12th.
Some sites had their coldest February day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.
Minimum temperature
Monthly average minimum temperatures were below the long-term average in a band that traversed central parts of the Territory. This band aligned with the latitude range of the monsoon trough during the first half of the month. Warmer than average night-time temperatures were observed to both the north and south of this band.
The coldest night was 8.6°C at Arltunga on the 14th, followed by 10.8°C at Kulgera on the 12th, followed by 11.0°C at Alice Springs Airport on the 14th.
The coolest nights on average were 20.8°C at Alice Springs Airport, followed by 20.8°C at Arltunga, followed by 21.4°C at Kulgera, followed by 21.5°C at Territory Grape Farm.
The warmest nights on average were 26.9°C at Northern Endeavour, followed by 26.1°C at McCluer Island, followed by 26.0°C at Centre Island.
The warmest night was 30.7°C at Walungurru on the 26th, followed by 30.2°C at Kulgera on the 7th, followed by 29.5°C at Kulgera on the 27th.
Some sites had their lowest February 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 |
44.2°C at Yulara Aero AWS on the 6th |
|---|---|
| Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature |
40.1°C at Walungurru AWS |
| Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature |
30.3°C at McCluer Island AWS |
| Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature |
24.5°C at Lajamanu AWSon the 12th |
| Coldest night Lowest temperature |
8.6°C at Arltunga on the 14th |
| Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature |
20.8°C at Alice Springs Airport 20.8°C at Arltunga |
| Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature |
26.0°C at Centre Island AWS |
| Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature |
30.7°C at Walungurru AWS on the 26th |
| Wettest overall Highest total rainfall |
648.2 mm at Fanny Creek |
| Wettest day Highest daily rainfall |
179.8 mm at Milingimbi AWS on the 18th |
| Highest wind gust |
76 km/h at Territory Grape Farm on the 5th 76 km/h at McCluer Island on the 8th |
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Records
| Record highest February daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily rainfall in February 2009 |
Previous highest | Years of record |
||||
| Bullita | 160.3 | on the 4th | 145.0 | on the 28th in 1994 | 37 | |
| Berry Springs Rangers | 117.8 | on the 17th | 108.0 | on the 4th in 1993 | 19 | |
| Territory Wildlife Park | 107.2 | on the 17th | 87.3 | on the 13th in 2004 | 16 | |
| Record highest total February rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall in February 2009 (mm) |
Previous highest | Years of record |
Average | ||
| Bullita | 637.6 | 585.6 | in 1969 | 37 | 203.4 |
| Kidman Springs | 462.0 | 395.3 | in 1980 | 36 | 188.9 |
| Record lowest February daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum temperature in February 2009 (°C) |
Previous lowest | Years of record |
Average | |||
| Lajamanu AWS | 24.5 | on the 12th | 25.0 | on the 18th in 2001 | 16 | 35.7 |
| Record lowest February temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest temperature in February 2009 (°C) |
Previous lowest | Years of record |
Average | |||
| Kulgera | 10.8 | on the 12th | 11.0 | on the 8th in 1999 | 27 | 21.5 |
| Lajamanu AWS | 16.0 | on the 15th | 17.2 | on the 28th in 1968 | 16 | 23.7 |
| Channel Point | 19.5 | on the 18th | 20.3 | on the 25th in 1996 | 14 | 24.9 |
| Rabbit Flat | 13.4 | on the 15th | 16.4 | on the 5th in 2005 | 11 | 23.8 |
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Summaries
This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.
| Summary statistics for February 2009 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean | Diff from average |
Highest | Mean | Diff from average |
Lowest | Total | Rank | Fraction of February average |
||||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Aero AWS | 31.3 | −1.0 | 34.5 | 19th | 23.7 | −0.1 | 21.3 | 19th | 430.2 | high | 127% | |
| Black Point | 30.8 | −0.2 | 31.9 | 20th | 25.8 | +0.2 | 23.0 | 22nd | 200.0 | low | 69% | |
| Bradshaw AWS | 33.3 | 37.2 | 22nd | 24.4 | 22.5 | 1st | 580.2 | |||||
| Cape Don AWS | 30.5 | 31.7 | 20th | 25.5 | 22.4 | 23rd | 209.6 | average | 102% | |||
| Central Arnhem Plateau AWS | 30.9 | 34.4 | 21st | 23.2 | 22.2 | 19th | 374.4 | |||||
| Channel Point | 31.1 | −0.4 | 32.8 | 25th | 24.9 | −0.1 | 19.5 | 18th | 306.2 | low | 72% | |
| Darwin Airport | 30.9 | −0.4 | 33.0 | 21st | 24.8 | +0.1 | 22.8 | 18th | 503.2 | high | 141% | |
| Douglas River | 32.4 | −0.8 | 35.6 | 20th | 24.0 | +0.3 | 21.6 | 1st | 400.4 | high | 138% | |
| Dum In Mirrie AWS | 30.7 | 32.2 | 21st | 25.5 | 22.9 | 18th | 376.2 | average | 94% | |||
| Jabiru Airport AWS | 32.6 | −0.5 | 35.3 | 20th | 24.7 | +0.3 | 22.8 | 24th | 335.2 | average | 97% | |
| Katherine Aviation Museum | 32.6 | −1.4 | 35.2 | 22nd | 23.8 | −0.1 | 22.2 | 16th | 308.0 | high | 126% | |
| Mango Farm | 32.0 | −1.1 | 36.5 | 22nd | 23.8 | +0.1 | 22.0 | 28th | 368.3 | average | 114% | |
| McCluer Island AWS | 30.3 | 31.7 | 20th | 26.1 | 24.6 | 18th | 132.2 | low | 58% | |||
| Middle Point AWS | 32.4 | 35.2 | 20th | 24.1 | 22.7 | 19th | 390.2 | |||||
| Noonamah AWS | 31.7 | 35.0 | 19th | 24.4 | 22.8 | 1st | 506.8 | |||||
| Pine Creek Council | 32.2 | 35.4 | 21st | 24.0 | 22.6 | 1st | 484.4 | |||||
| Pirlangimpi AWS | 31.3 | 0.0 | 32.7 | 21st | 25.1 | +0.7 | 23.0 | 18th | 393.4 | average | 102% | |
| Port Keats Aero | 31.3 | 35.2 | 22nd | 24.8 | 22.1 | 7th | 236.2 | |||||
| Tindal RAAF AWS | 33.0 | −0.7 | 36.0 | 22nd | 24.2 | +0.1 | 22.6 | 16th | 186.0 | average | 74% | |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Alyangula Police | 31.4 | −1.1 | 36.5 | 1st | 25.5 | −0.1 | 22.9 | 6th | 300.1 | high | 126% | |
| Gove Airport | 31.0 | −0.3 | 32.9 | 3rd | 24.8 | +0.3 | 23.4 | 20th | 218.2 | average | 75% | |
| Groote Eylandt Airport AWS | 32.0 | 33.9 | 22nd | 24.9 | 21.7 | 19th | 283.0 | |||||
| Maningrida Aero AWS | 31.4 | 33.7 | 6th | 25.1 | 24.2 | 1st | 246.8 | |||||
| Milingimbi AWS | 32.0 | 34.9 | 20th | 25.4 | 23.3 | 18th | 332.4 | |||||
| Ngayawili AWS | 31.1 | 32.5 | 20th | 25.7 | 22.9 | 23rd | 293.8 | |||||
| Warruwi AWS | 31.2 | −0.2 | 33.3 | 3rd | 25.3 | +0.1 | 23.1 | 22nd | 209.6 | average | 88% | |
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola AWS | 32.4 | −1.5 | 35.7 | 21st | 24.1 | −0.7 | 22.6 | 20th | 178.0 | average | 80% | |
| Centre Island AWS | 32.4 | −0.5 | 35.8 | 20th | 26.0 | −0.6 | 23.9 | 12th | 222.4 | average | 81% | |
| Daly Waters AWS | 33.8 | −1.0 | 36.7 | 21st | 23.0 | −0.6 | 18.7 | 18th | 212.4 | average | 121% | |
| Larrimah | 33.4 | −1.1 | 36.0 | 26th | 23.3 | −0.4 | 20.9 | 18th | 268.8 | high | 132% | |
| McArthur River Mine | 34.1 | −1.1 | 37.8 | 21st | 24.5 | −0.2 | 22.7 | 16th | 293.2 | high | 162% | |
| Ngukurr | 33.7 | −1.3 | 36.9 | 20th | 24.9 | +0.2 | 23.2 | 7th | 185.3 | average | 108% | |
| Wollogorang | 33.4 | −1.0 | 36.8 | 21st | 23.8 | −0.3 | 19.6 | 18th | 219.1 | average | 86% | |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Kidman Springs | 34.3 | −1.2 | 38.7 | 7th | 23.8 | −1.0 | 21.9 | 12th | 462.0 | highest | 245% | |
| Lajamanu AWS | 35.2 | −0.5 | 39.0 | 23rd | 22.6 | −1.1 | 16.0 | 15th | 42.4 | low | 28% | |
| Timber Creek | 34.1 | −0.9 | 37.9 | 25th | 23.9 | −0.8 | 21.9 | 26th | 352.1 | high | 154% | |
| Victoria River Downs | 33.9 | −1.5 | 37.1 | 20th | 23.9 | −0.6 | 21.6 | 13th | 313.8 | very high | 199% | |
| Wave Hill | 34.2 | −1.6 | 37.6 | 8th | 22.9 | −1.0 | 18.5 | 16th | 137.0 | average | 76% | |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Brunette Downs | 32.4 | −3.9 | 35.4 | 22nd | 22.8 | −1.4 | 18.0 | 18th | 162.8 | high | 162% | |
| Elliott | 34.5 | −2.2 | 42.5 | 9th | 23.5 | −0.4 | 18.5 | 16th | 269.9 | high | 169% | |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 34.5 | −1.2 | 37.7 | 6th | 23.4 | −1.1 | 17.9 | 15th | 26.2 | low | 21% | |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 36.5 | +1.5 | 41.3 | 6th | 20.8 | +0.1 | 11.0 | 14th | 9.8 | average | 23% | |
| Arltunga | 35.3 | 40.0 | 6th | 20.8 | 8.6 | 14th | 4.6 | low | 11% | |||
| Curtin Springs | 38.4 | +2.1 | 44.0 | 6th | 22.4 | +0.9 | 13.9 | 13th | 0 | lowest | 0% | |
| Jervois | 37.2 | +0.3 | 41.8 | 5th | 22.6 | +0.6 | 13.0 | 14th | 3.8 | low | 6% | |
| Kulgera | 37.0 | +1.5 | 43.6 | 6th | 21.4 | −0.1 | 10.8 | 12th | 0 | lowest | 0% | |
| Papunya | 38.3 | 41.2 | 6th | 22.4 | 15.4 | 14th | 0.9 | low | 2% | |||
| Rabbit Flat | 38.3 | +1.7 | 41.3 | 8th | 22.9 | −0.8 | 13.4 | 15th | 3.2 | lowest | 2% | |
| Territory Grape Farm AWS | 37.0 | +0.9 | 40.8 | 6th | 21.5 | −0.2 | 13.0 | 14th | 6.6 | low | 9% | |
| Walungurru AWS | 40.1 | 43.6 | 6th | 21.9 | 13th | 0 | ||||||
| Watarrka | 37.7 | +1.0 | 42.5 | 6th | 23.9 | +0.8 | 14.0 | 14th | 1.8 | very low | 3% | |
| Yuendumu | 36.9 | +1.8 | 39.4 | 8th | 21.9 | −0.1 | 13.9 | 14th | 21.0 | average | 32% | |
| Yulara Aero AWS | 38.5 | +1.8 | 44.2 | 6th | 23.0 | +1.0 | 16.5 | 14th | 0 | lowest | 0% | |
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Notes
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 1 pm on Monday 2 March 2009. 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 2006.
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