Thursday, 1 April 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC22R0
Northern Territory in March 2010: Dry northwest and wet southeast
March rainfall was below average to very much below average in the northwestern parts of the Territory. Rainfall was above average in the northeastern Top End and Gulf country mainly due to TC Paul which moved through the area during the last week of the month. Above average rainfall was recorded in the southern parts of the Alice Springs District. Maximum temperatures were below average across most of the Territory except the northwest Top End where they were above average. Minimums were generally close to average across the Territory..
Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Darwin
Darwin was drier and warmer than normal during March 2010. Darwin Airport recorded a below average monthly total of 209mm. The average monthly maximum temperature was 33.3 °C and the minimum 25.3 °C - both values being above their respective long-term means.
Alice Springs
Alice Springs was wetter than normal with a 32.8 mm monthly rainfall total. Alice Springs was much cooler during the day with a mean maximum temperature of 30.1 °C, which was 2.6 °C below long-term average. The average overnight minimum temperature of 17.4 °C was close to the long-term mean.
Rainfall
A few stations in the Darwin Daly District received their lowest March rainfall total on record. Some of the lowest rainfall totals in the district were; Douglas River 24.0 mm (235.7 mm average), Mary River Rangers 50.1 mm (233.2 mm average), Darwin River Dam 86.0 mm (301.6 mm average) and Humpty Doo Collard Road 92.4 mm (average 346.5 mm).
The Arnhem and Roper-McArthur districts received significant rainfall during the last week of the month associated with the presence of Tropical Cyclone Paul in the region.
Southern parts of the Alice Springs District received above average to well above average rainfall during the month.
The wettest overall was 568.6 mm at Alyangula Police, followed by 566.0 mm at Bulman AWS, and then 514.0 mm at Groote Eylandt Airport AWS.
The driest overall was 1.2 mm at Brunchilly, followed by 1.4 mm at Tilmouth Well.
Some sites had their highest total March rainfall on record. Some sites had their highest total March rainfall for at least 20 years. Some sites had their lowest total March rainfall on record. Some sites had their lowest total March rainfall for at least 20 years.The wettest single day was 442.8 mm at Bulman AWS on the 31st, followed by 215.0 mm at Mainoru Outstation Store on the 31st, and then 183.6 mm at Limmen River on the 31st.
There is a map of rainfall deciles below.Temperature
Maximum temperature
Daytime temperatures remained warmer across most of the Top End and cooler in southern parts of the Territory.
The northwest Top End remained 1 - 2 °C warmer than normal with areas near Jabiru, Daly River Mouth and the Tiwi Islands recording maximums 2 - 3 °C above the norm. Maximum temperatures in southeastern parts of the Territory remained 2 - 3°C cooler than normal.
The hottest day was 41.1 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 6th, followed by 39.2 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 8th, and then 39.1 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 7th.
The warmest days on average were 36.9 °C at BradshawAWS, followed by 36.4 °C at Kidman Springs, and then 36.1 °C at Timber Creek.
The coolest days on average were 30.1 °C at Alice Springs Airport, followed by 31.0 °C at Gove Airport and Watarrka, and then 31.4 °C at Kulgera.
The coldest day was 18.9 °C at Watarrka on the 13th, followed by 19.5 °C at Arltunga on the 1st, and then 20.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 1st.
Some sites had their highest March mean daily maximum temperature on record. There is a map of maximum temperature anomalies below.Minimum temperature
Minimums remained within one degree of the long-term mean. Some areas near Oenpelli in the Top End and Kulgera in the Alice Springs District recorded 1 - 2 °C above average minimums during the month.
The coldest night was 10.5 °C at Watarrka on the 12th, followed by 12.1 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 12th, and then 13.0 °C at Watarrka on the 7th and at Yulara Aero AWS on the 7th.
The coolest nights on average were 17.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport, followed by 18.4 °C at Watarrka, and then 18.6 °C at Curtin Springs.
The warmest nights on average were 26.4 °C at McCluer Island AWS, followed by 26.2 °C at Cape Don AWS.
The warmest night was 29.3 °C at Point Fawcett AWS on the 29th, followed by 28.2 °C at McCluer Island AWS on the 8th, and then 28.1 °C at Ngayawili AWSon the 1st.
Some sites had their highest March mean daily minimum temperature on record. There is a map of minimum temperature anomalies below.Wind
The strongest recorded wind gust was 87 km/h at Ngayawili AWS on the 30th, followed by 83 km/h at Centre Island on the 30th, followed by 78 km/h at Centre Island AWS on the 12th.
Tropical Cyclone Paul
Tropical cyclone Paul formed near the northeast coast of Northern Territory on the 28th. It moved erratically and slowly drifted southwest. It weakened to below cyclone intensity on the 30th. The thunderstorm activity associated with the tropical cyclone caused widespread heavy rainfall in the Arnhem and the Roper-McArthur districts. Coastal areas along the western Gulf of Carpentaria experienced gale force winds during the period.
Further information
NT Climate Services CentreBureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in March 2010 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
41.1 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 6th 39.2 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 8th 39.1 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 7th |
| Warmest days on average |
36.9 °C at Bradshaw AWS 36.4 °C at Kidman Springs 36.1 °C at Timber Creek |
| Coolest days on average |
30.1 °C at Alice Springs Airport 31.0 °C at Gove Airport 31.0 °C at Watarrka 31.4 °C at Kulgera |
| Coldest day |
18.9 °C at Watarrka on the 13th 19.5 °C at Arltunga on the 1st 20.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 1st |
| Coldest night |
10.5 °C at Watarrka on the 12th 12.1 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 12th 13.0 °C at Watarrka on the 7th 13.0 °C at Yulara Aero AWS on the 7th |
| Coolest nights on average |
17.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport 18.4 °C at Watarrka 18.6 °C at Curtin Springs |
| Warmest nights on average | 26.4 °C at McCluer Island AWS 26.2 °C at Cape Don AWS |
| Warmest night |
29.3 °C at Point Fawcett AWS on the 29th 28.2 °C at McCluer Island AWS on the 8th 28.1 °C at Ngayawili AWS on the 1st |
| Wettest overall |
568.6 mm at Alyangula Police 566.0 mm at Bulman AWS 514.0 mm at Groote Eylandt Airport AWS |
| Driest overall | 1.2 mm at Brunchilly 1.4 mm at Tilmouth Well |
| Wettest day |
442.8 mm at Bulman AWS on the 31st 215.0 mm at Mainoru Outstation Store on the 31st 183.6 mm at Limmen River on the 31st |
Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Maps
Anomaly in mean maximum temperature
Anomaly in mean minimum temperature
Rainfall deciles
Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record highest March daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily rainfall in March 2010 (mm) |
Previous highest for March |
Years of record |
||||
| Jervois | 80.6 | on the 1st | 71.0 | on the 18th in 1983 | 45 | |
| Watarrka | 76.0 | on the 14th | 53.5 | on the 21st in 2007 | 20 | |
| Record highest total March rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for March 2010 (mm) |
Previous highest for March |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Alyangula Police | 568.6 | 511.6 | in 1999 | 32 | 257.9 |
| Highest total March rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for March 2010 (mm) |
Most recent higher for March |
Years since higher |
Average for March |
||
| Tobermorey | 69.6 | 187.5 | in 1973 | 21 | 22.8 |
| Record lowest total March rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for March 2010 (mm) |
Previous lowest for March |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Darwin River Dam | 86.0 | 103.7 | in 1979 | 38 | 301.6 |
| Douglas River | 24.0 | 63.4 | in 1990 | 35 | 235.7 |
| Humpty Doo Collard Road | 92.8 | 106.0 | in 1987 | 28 | 346.5 |
| Lowest total March rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for March 2010 (mm) |
Most recent lower for March |
Years since lower |
Average for March |
||
| Oenpelli | 101.0 | 57.3 | in 1962 | 44 | 280.3 |
| Larrakeyah | 90.7 | 77.4 | in 1978 | 25 | 357.5 |
| Howard Springs | 93.0 | 64.6 | in 1987 | 23 | 376.1 |
| Mango Farm | 33.1 | 28.0 | in 1987 | 22 | 222.1 |
| Record lowest March daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum temperature in March 2010 (°C) |
Previous lowest for March |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
| McArthur River Mine | 24.8 | on the 31st | 25.1 | on the 8th in 1989 | 32 | 34.9 |
| Record highest March mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for March 2010 (°C) |
Previous highest for March |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Mango Farm | 35.4 | = 35.4 | in 2002 | 28 | 33.9 |
| Pirlangimpi AWS | 33.4 | 32.7 | in 1992 | 26 | 31.9 |
| Record highest March mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for March 2010 (°C) |
Previous highest for March |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Oenpelli | 25.3 | = 25.3 | in 1998 | 45 | 24.4 |
| Warruwi AWS | 26.1 | 26.0 | in 1988 | 43 | 25.1 |
Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for March 2010 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for March (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for March (°C) |
Rainfall for March (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for March 2010 |
Diff from average |
Highest for March 2010 |
Mean for March 2010 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for March 2010 |
Total for March 2010 |
Average for March |
Rank of March 2010 |
Fraction of March average |
|||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Aero AWS | 34.0 | +1.2 | 36.0 | 29th | 23.8 | +0.4 | 22.2 | 4th | 92.2 | 257.0 | average | 36% |
| Bradshaw AWS | 36.9 | 38.7 | 29th | 24.2 | 19.6 | 11th | 37.2 | |||||
| Cape Don AWS | 32.4 | 33.6 | 9th | 26.2 | 22.8 | 11th | 199.0 | 257.3 | low | 77% | ||
| Central Arnhem Plateau AWS | 32.6 | 35.4 | 8th | 23.1 | 21.3 | 18th | 89.0 | |||||
| Channel Point | 33.4 | +1.7 | 35.0 | 21st | 24.9 | +0.5 | 22.5 | 12th | 202.0 | 392.8 | low | 51% |
| Darwin Airport | 33.3 | +1.4 | 35.4 | 12th | 25.3 | +0.8 | 23.4 | 26th | 209.0 | 323.8 | low | 65% |
| Delamere Weapons Range AWS | 34.9 | +0.7 | 36.7 | 7th | 23.3 | +0.1 | 21.3 | 3rd | 21.6 | 178.3 | low | 12% |
| Douglas River | 35.1 | +1.5 | 37.5 | 26th | 23.4 | +0.3 | 19.3 | 12th | 24.0 | 235.7 | lowest | 10% |
| Dum In Mirrie AWS | 32.8 | +1.3 | 35.0 | 18th | 25.4 | +0.4 | 22.7 | 9th | 286.4 | 354.0 | average | 81% |
| Jabiru Airport AWS | 34.8 | +1.3 | 36.8 | 9th | 25.0 | +0.7 | 22.6 | 13th | 158.6 | 325.8 | low | 49% |
| Katherine Aviation Museum | 33.8 | -0.5 | 36.6 | 7th | 22.9 | -0.2 | 19.8 | 11th | 107.2 | 207.5 | average | 52% |
| Mango Farm | 35.4 | +1.5 | 37.5 | 29th | 23.3 | -0.3 | 19.6 | 12th | 33.1 | 222.1 | v low | 15% |
| McCluer Island AWS | 32.0 | +1.3 | 33.5 | 11th | 26.4 | +0.6 | 24.2 | 29th | 123.8 | 223.3 | average | 55% |
| Middle Point AWS | 34.8 | 36.5 | 22nd | 24.0 | 22.1 | 8th | 69.8 | |||||
| Noonamah AWS | 35.3 | 38.1 | 29th | 24.0 | 22.1 | 12th | 175.8 | |||||
| Oenpelli | 34.2 | +1.3 | 35.7 | 21st | 25.3 | +0.9 | 24.2 | 13th | 101.0 | 280.3 | v low | 36% |
| Pine Creek Council | 34.2 | 35.6 | 6th | 24.0 | 22.1 | 18th | 36.5 | |||||
| Pirlangimpi | 33.4 | +1.5 | 34.5 | 6th | 24.4 | +0.4 | 21.8 | 30th | 243.6 | 362.3 | low | 67% |
| Point Fawcett AWS | 32.5 | +0.9 | 33.7 | 23rd | 24.7 | -0.2 | 22.2 | 10th | 139.8 | 236.3 | average | 59% |
| Port Keats Aero | 35.1 | 37.2 | 29th | 24.6 | 19.9 | 12th | 47.0 | |||||
| Tindal RAAF | 34.4 | +0.3 | 36.2 | 7th | 23.2 | +0.1 | 19.8 | 11th | 73.8 | 174.7 | low | 42% |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Alyangula Police | 31.9 | -0.2 | 34.6 | 7th | 24.4 | -0.2 | 22.6 | 17th | 568.6 | 257.9 | highest | 220% |
| Gove Airport | 31.0 | -0.2 | 33.7 | 7th | 23.9 | 0.0 | 22.1 | 8th | 334.0 | 269.8 | average | 124% |
| Groote Eylandt Airport AWS | 32.5 | 35.6 | 9th | 23.3 | 21.4 | 22nd | 514.0 | |||||
| Maningrida Aero | 32.6 | 35.5 | 10th | 24.9 | 23.5 | 18th | 178.0 | |||||
| Milingimbi AWS | 32.7 | 35.2 | 17th | 25.1 | 23.9 | 11th | 158.6 | |||||
| Ngayawili AWS | 31.7 | 34.4 | 11th | 24.7 | 20.7 | 4th | 174.6 | |||||
| Warruwi AWS | 32.5 | +1.1 | 34.0 | 9th | 26.1 | +1.0 | 24.6 | 15th | 111.2 | 240.0 | low | 46% |
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola AWS | 32.6 | -0.8 | 36.4 | 8th | 23.1 | -0.3 | 20.4 | 11th | 205.4 | 156.1 | high | 132% |
| Bulman AWS | 33.7 | 37.0 | 7th | 23.0 | 20.3 | 11th | 566.0 | |||||
| Centre Island | 32.3 | -0.5 | 36.0 | 7th | 26.1 | -0.2 | 22.9 | 31st | 380.8 | 269.6 | high | 141% |
| Daly Waters AWS | 34.2 | -0.4 | 36.5 | 7th | 21.9 | -0.7 | 17.3 | 11th | 17.0 | 108.4 | low | 16% |
| Larrimah | 33.9 | -0.2 | 36.8 | 7th | 21.9 | -0.7 | 17.0 | 11th | 38.4 | 154.2 | low | 25% |
| McArthur River Mine | 34.4 | -0.5 | 38.0 | 9th | 24.1 | +0.8 | 21.0 | 11th | 100.8 | 138.0 | average | 73% |
| Ngukurr | 38.0 | 6th | 24.8 | +0.9 | 23.0 | 11th | 46.0 | 172.4 | low | 27% | ||
| Wollogorang | 32.9 | -1.6 | 37.4 | 7th | 22.5 | -0.2 | 19.2 | 10th | 123.8 | 163.7 | average | 76% |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Kidman Springs | 36.4 | +0.9 | 38.9 | 29th | 23.6 | +0.2 | 18.5 | 11th | 28.0 | 131.6 | low | 21% |
| Lajamanu AWS | 34.5 | -0.2 | 38.1 | 7th | 21.7 | -0.4 | 16.6 | 11th | 41.6 | 79.7 | average | 52% |
| Timber Creek | 36.1 | +0.7 | 38.4 | 7th | 23.6 | 0.0 | 19.7 | 11th | 46.1 | 167.0 | low | 28% |
| Victoria River Downs | 35.4 | +0.3 | 38.0 | 7th | 23.3 | +0.1 | 17.5 | 11th | 57.8 | 109.1 | average | 53% |
| Wave Hill | 35.5 | +0.1 | 37.8 | 7th | 21.7 | -0.4 | 16.4 | 11th | 19.8 | 118.9 | low | 17% |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Brunette Downs | 33.5 | -1.7 | 36.2 | 29th | 22.0 | -0.3 | 19.0 | 10th | 38.4 | 54.8 | average | 70% |
| Elliott | 34.6 | -1.1 | 38.0 | 7th | 22.2 | -0.1 | 19.0 | 12th | 36.8 | 87.5 | low | 42% |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 33.2 | -1.2 | 37.0 | 6th | 22.6 | -0.7 | 19.2 | 3rd | 13.0 | 55.7 | average | 23% |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 30.1 | -2.6 | 34.3 | 5th | 17.4 | -0.1 | 12.1 | 12th | 32.8 | 31.4 | high | 104% |
| Curtin Springs | 32.3 | -1.4 | 38.8 | 5th | 18.6 | +0.2 | 14.0 | 7th | 29.5 | 28.4 | high | 104% |
| Jervois | 31.8 | -2.9 | 35.4 | 29th | 19.3 | +0.1 | 16.0 | 10th | 94.0 | 29.9 | high | 314% |
| Kulgera | 31.4 | -0.8 | 37.1 | 28th | 19.1 | +1.1 | 14.4 | 8th | 20.6 | 32.0 | average | 64% |
| Rabbit Flat | 35.5 | -0.5 | 41.1 | 6th | 21.7 | +0.1 | 18.9 | 4th | 57.6 | 69.8 | average | 83% |
| Territory Grape Farm AWS | 31.8 | -2.5 | 36.3 | 6th | 18.7 | -0.9 | 14.4 | 10th | 17.8 | 18.6 | average | 96% |
| Watarrka | 31.0 | -3.5 | 37.1 | 5th | 18.4 | -2.3 | 10.5 | 12th | 140.2 | 27.9 | v high | 503% |
| Yuendumu | 32.4 | -0.9 | 37.5 | 6th | 18.9 | -0.8 | 16.5 | 2nd | 57.7 | 45.3 | high | 127% |
| Yulara Aero AWS | 32.3 | -2.1 | 38.8 | 5th | 18.8 | -0.3 | 13.0 | 7th | 35.8 | 31.9 | high | 112% |
Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
A Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list the main features of the weather in Northern Territory using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 3 pm on Thursday 1 April 2010. 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 2008.
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
