Thursday, 29 April 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC22R0

Wet and warm April 2010 - Northern Territory

April rainfall was above average to well above average throughout the Northern Territory. Ex- tropical cyclone Paul moved through the Roper McArthur and the Barkly districts as a rain depression and produced significant rainfall in the region during first week of the month. Above average rainfall was recorded in the Alice Springs district. Maximum temperatures were close to average across most of the Territory, and above average down the western border of the NT. Minimums were above average to very much above average across the Territory.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Darwin

Darwin was wetter than normal during April 2010. Darwin Airport recorded an above average monthly total of 140.8mm. The long-term mean rainfall for April is 99.8mm. The average monthly maximum temperature was 32.5°C and minimum 24.3°C, with both values being above the long-term mean.

Alice Springs

Alice Springs was wetter than normal with 40.8mm of rain for the month. The mean Maximum Temperature at Alice Springs of 28.4°C was close to the long-term mean of 28.3°C. An average overnight minimum temperature of 15.0°C was well above the long-term mean of 12.6°C for April. 

Rainfall

Above average to well above average rainfall was recorded in the Territory during April. The Roper McArthur and Barkly districts received significant rainfall during the first week of the month due to the passage of Ex-TC Paul in the area. Alyangula Police station recorded a total of 490.7mm of rainfall during the month. Some of the highest monthly totals recorded in the Roper McArthur district where: Wollogorang 387.0mm (35.5mm average); Centre Island AWS 385.4 (88.3mm average),  Bing Bong 327.2mm (83.0mm average).

The wettest station overall was Alyangula Police with 490.7 mm, followed by Groote Eylandt Airport AWS with 445.8 mm.

The driest overall was Victoria River Crossing which went without rain for the month.

Some sites had their highest April total rainfall on record. Some sites had their lowest April total rainfall on record.

The wettest single day was 358.4 mm at Centre Island AWS on the 1st, followed by 266.0 mm at Bing Bong Port on the 1st and then 263.3 mm at Wollogorang on the 2nd.

Some sites had their highest April daily rainfall on record.

Maximum temperature

Daytime temperatures remained close to average across the Top End and a little warmer than average down the western border of the Territory. Southwestern parts of the Alice Springs district saw maximum temperatures nearly 3 degrees above the long-term mean.  

The hottest day was 40.3 °C at Bradshaw AWS on the 6th, followed by 40.0 °C at Bradshaw AWS on the 5th and Kidman Springs on the 6th, followed by 39.9 °C at Timber Creek on the 6th.

The warmest days on average were 36.8 °C at Bradshaw AWS, followed by 36.6 °C at Timber Creek, followed by 36.5 °C at Kidman Springs.

The coolest days on average were 27.2 °C at Arltunga, followed by 28.1 °C at Alice Springs Airport and then 28.8 °C at Kulgera.

The coldest day was 19.8 °C at Jervois on the 11th, followed by 20.2 °C at Kulgera on the 11th and then 20.6 °C at Curtin Springs on the 11th.

Some sites had their highest April temperature on record. Some sites had their coldest April day (lowest maximum temperature) on record. Some sites had their lowest April mean daily maximum temperature on record for at least 10 years.

Minimum temperature

Minimums remained warmer than the long-term mean throughout the Territory. The minimums were mostly 2°C two degrees above average across the Territory, with some locations recording an average minimum temperature of more than 3°C above normal.  

The coldest night was 5.6 °C at Arltunga on the 30th, followed by 5.8 °C at Arltunga on the 29th and then 7.4°C at Arltunga on the 16th.

The coolest nights on average were 14.5 °C at Arltunga, followed by 14.8 °C at Alice Springs Airport and then 15.9 °C at Curtin Springs.

The warmest nights on average were 26.3 °C at Cape Don AWS, followed by 25.8 °C at Centre Island AWS and then 25.8 °C at Dum In Mirrie AWS.

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

Wind

The strongest wind gusts all occured on the first of the month with the passage of ex-TC Paul. 87 km/h was recorded at Centre Island AWS, 78 km/h at Borroloola AWS and 69 km/h at Ngayawili.

Further information

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Extremes in April 2010
Hottest day 40.3 °C at Bradshaw AWS on the 6th
Warmest days on average 36.8 °C at Bradshaw AWS
Coolest days on average 27.2 °C at Arltunga
Coldest day 19.8 °C at Jervois on the 11th
Coldest night 5.6 °C at Arltunga on the 30th
Coolest nights on average 14.5 °C at Arltunga
Warmest nights on average 26.3 °C at Cape Don AWS
Warmest night 29.6 °C at Dum In Mirrie AWS on the 6th
Wettest overall 490.7 mm at Alyangula Police
Driest overall 0 mm at Victoria River Crossing
Wettest day 358.4 mm at Centre Island AWS on the 1st
Highest wind gust 87 km/h at Centre Island AWS on the 1st

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest April daily rainfall
Highest daily rainfall
(mm)		 Previous highest
for April		 Years of
record
Legune 101.2 on the 10th 87.6 on the 26th in 1960 51
Centre Island AWS 358.4 on the 1st 328.4 on the 13th in 1971 43
McArthur River Mine 162.2 on the 1st 81.8 on the 13th in 1971 35
Howard Springs 132.0 on the 8th 130.0 on the 14th in 1985 35
Wollogorang 263.3 on the 2nd 83.8 on the 13th in 1971 34
Gallipoli 69.4 on the 3rd 29.7 on the 23rd in 1970 32
Atula 63.0 on the 11th =63.0 on the 22nd in 2000 30
Nathan River 192.4 on the 1st 116.7 on the 27th in 2006 21
Gilnockie 81.0 on the 28th 56.8 on the 9th in 1996 22
Leanyer 100.4 on the 6th 70.2 on the 25th in 2000 19
Stokes Hill 75.0 on the 6th 70.4 on the 5th in 2006 16
Walker Creek 84.0 on the 15th 74.8 on the 8th in 1999 15
Borroloola AWS 184.6 on the 1st 72.0 on the 7th in 2001 14
Bing Bong Port 266.0 on the 1st 92.0 on the 10th in 2000 13
Anzac Oval 42.0 on the 11th 9.0 on the 27th in 2006 10
Bond Springs 47.0 on the 9th 16.0 on the 27th in 2006 10
Bond Springs Turnoff 36.0 on the 9th 11.0 on the 27th in 2006 10
Mount Lloyd 24.0 on the 11th 9.0 on the 27th in 2006 10


Record highest April total rainfall
Total rainfall
(mm)		 Previous highest
for April		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
McArthur River Mine 213.6 182.6 in 1971 39 28.8
Wollogorang 387.0 285.9 in 1971 34 37.7
Jabiru Airport AWS 351.4 305.8 in 2006 33 77.7
Bing Bong Port 327.2 289.2 in 2006 13 83.9
Walker Creek 215.5 165.0 in 1996 13 66.5


Record lowest April total rainfall
Total rainfall
(mm)		 Previous lowest
for April		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Territory Grape Farm AWS 0.0 = 0.0 in 2008 14 18.7


Record highest April temperature
Highest temperature
(°C)		 Previous highest
for April		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Mango Farm 38.1 on the 5th 37.9 on the 7th in 1987 28 34.3
Timber Creek 39.9 on the 6th 39.1 on the 10th in 1981 29 35.2
Borroloola AWS 38.8 on the 22nd 37.8 on the 24th in 2002 13 33.9
Kidman Springs 40.0 on the 6th = 40.0 on the 2nd in 1997 13 35.5
Delamere Weapons Range 38.0 on the 6th = 38.0 on the 13th in 1998 12 34.2


Record lowest April daily maximum temperature
Lowest daily maximum
temperature
(°C)		 Previous lowest
for April		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Wollogorang 23.3 on the 1st 23.4 on the 7th in 2006 24 33.8



Record highest April daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature
(°C)		 Previous highest
for April		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Pirlangimpi AWS 28.0 on the 6th 26.2 on the 25th in 2006 27 22.9
Watarrka 28.1 on the 7th 27.5 on the 9th in 2005 19 16.6
Black Point 28.5 on the 4th 27.9 on the 16th in 1998 16 24.8
Douglas River 25.9 on the 6th 25.8 on the 8th in 1999 16 20.2
Lajamanu AWS 26.0 on the 9th = 26.0 on the 4th in 2005 16 17.9
Channel Point 28.9 on the 5th 27.7 on the 9th in 2009 15 23.3
Kidman Springs 27.6 on the 7th 27.0 on the 7th in 2003 14 21.0
Delamere Weapons Range 26.4 on the 12th =25.0 on the 4th in 2006 12 21.0
Point Fawcett AWS 29.1 on the 6th 27.6 on the 28th in 2006 12 23.6
Dum In Mirrie AWS 29.6 on the 6th 28.4 on the 9th in 2005 10 24.3


Record highest April mean minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
(°C)		 Previous highest
for April		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Jervois 18.1 17.8 in 2005 42 14.2
Victoria River Downs 23.2 =23.2 in 1992 42 19.7
Tindal RAAF 23.2 22.8 in 1998 21 20.5
Delamere Weapons Range 23.4 22.7 in 1998 12 21.0
Douglas River 23.0 = 23.0 in 2000 18 20.2
Kidman Springs 23.8 22.8 in 2000 13 20.6
Lajamanu 20.9 20.8 in 2005 17 17.9
Batchelor Aero 23.3 22.9 in 2000 11 21.5
Dum In Mirrie AWS 25.8 25.0 in 2005 10 24.3



Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for April 2010
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(mm)
Mean for
April
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
April
2010		 Mean for
April
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
April
2010		 Total for
April
2010		 Average
for
April		 Rank of
April
2010		 Fraction of
April
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Aero 33.9 +0.1 36.2 5th 23.3 +1.8 20.5 1st 154.6 95.0 high 163%
Black Point 31.7 +0.1 33.4 23rd 25.4 +0.6 23.7 27th 186.7 107.3 high 174%
Bradshaw 36.8   40.3 6th 24.3   20.6 24th 73.8
Cape Don 31.9   33.4 27th 26.3   23.5 24th 225.4 140.2 high 161%
Central Arnhem Plateau 31.4   34.4 5th 22.5   20.3 18th 236.0
Darwin Airport 32.5 -0.2 34.0 22nd 24.7 +0.7 23.5 6th 141.0 100.3 high 141%
Delamere Weapons Range 35.2 +1.0 38.0 6th 23.4 +2.4 20.9 20th 14.6 20.4 high 72%
Douglas River 34.2 -0.3 37.5 5th 23.0 +2.8 19.5 24th 89.8 48.5 high 185%
Dum In Mirrie AWS 32.4 -0.4 34.5 24th 25.8 +1.5 23.5 1st 70.6 101.2 average 70%
Jabiru Airport 34.1 -0.3 36.7 5th 24.5 +1.0 22.7 11th 351.4 77.7 highest 452%
Katherine Aviation Museum 33.5 -0.6 36.6 5th 22.8 +2.1 20.4 30th 56.8 39.6 high 143%
Mango Farm 34.7 +0.4 38.1 5th 23.1 +1.6 19.9 1st 105.9 62.2 high 170%
Middle Point AWS 33.4   36.0 4th 23.7   21.8 1st 195.2
Noonamah AWS 34.3   37.9 5th 23.8   21.7 1st 144.8
Pine Creek Council 33.6   37.2 5th 23.6   21.9 19th 123.7
Pirlangimpi 32.7 +0.1 34.2 23rd 24.4 +1.5 22.4 27th 206.0 151.0 high 136%
Point Fawcett 32.0 -0.1 33.0 10th 24.8 +1.2 22.0 28th 286.6 127.2 high 225%
Port Keats Aero 34.5   37.3 5th 24.4   22.1 24th 130.0
Tindal RAAF 33.8 0.0 36.6 6th 23.2 +2.7 20.2 30th 100.0 37.6 high 266%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Alyangula Police 31.1 -0.7 32.5 10th 24.0 +1.1 21.4 30th 490.7 181.3 v high 271%
Gove Airport 30.4 -0.4 32.1 3rd 24.2 +1.0 21.8 23rd 106.4 227.1 average 47%
Groote Eylandt Airport AWS 32.0   33.7 26th 23.4   20.4 23rd 445.8
Maningrida Aero 32.2   34.6 24th 24.3   22.1 24th 152.6
Milingimbi AWS 32.6   34.8 3rd 24.5   22.8 24th 162.8
Ngayawili 31.6   33.6 23rd 24.9   22.4 24th 100.2
Warruwi 31.7 +0.2 33.8 2nd 25.5 +0.5 24.0 23rd 109.8 121.0 average 91%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola 32.0 -1.8 38.8 22nd 22.5 +2.2 18.2 30th 270.8 59.9 v high 452%
Bulman AWS 33.2   35.3 3rd 23.0   19.7 24th 241.8
Centre Island 31.5 -0.5 34.0 22nd 25.8 +0.5 22.2 1st 385.4 87.0 v high 443%
Daly Waters AWS 34.5 +0.7 36.1 9th 22.2 +2.5 18.6 24th 11.8 21.2 average 56%
Larrimah 33.9 0.0 35.6 5th 21.9 +2.1 18.0 30th 35.0 32.3 high 108%
McArthur River Mine 33.3 -1.4 35.6 24th 23.1 +2.6 19.5 30th 213.6 28.8 highest 742%
Wollogorang 32.0 -1.8 34.5 10th 22.3 +2.6 16.4 30th 387.0 37.7 highest 1027%
Victoria (district 14F)
Kidman Springs 36.5 +1.1 40.0 6th 23.8 +3.2 19.5 28th 35.0 24.3 high 144%
Lajamanu 33.5 -0.2 37.3 6th 20.9 +3.0 15.5 23rd 8.8 14.1 average 62%
Timber Creek 36.6 +1.4 39.9 6th 23.4 +2.3 20.4 23rd 7.1 31.0 average 23%
Victoria River Downs 36.1 +1.6 38.8 5th 23.2 +3.5 17.7 30th 6.0 22.6 average 27%
Wave Hill 35.0 +0.7 39.0 6th 22.3 +3.5 16.6 30th 54.2 19.1 high 284%
Barkly (district 15A)
Elliott 34.9 +0.4 37.3 9th 21.8 +2.4 16.9 30th 26.8 24.2 high 111%
Tennant Creek Airport 31.2 -0.5 35.3 9th 21.7 +1.3 17.3 30th 47.0 15.8 high 297%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 28.1 -0.1 36.0 6th 14.8 +2.2 7.5 30th 40.8 16.5 v high 247%
Arltunga 27.2   35.1 6th 14.5   5.6 30th 82.6 16.2 v high 510%
Curtin Springs 30.0 +0.9 38.1 6th 15.9 +2.5 10.7 30th 28.0 15.7 high 178%
Jervois 29.0 -1.5 37.3 6th 18.1 +3.9 11.3 29th 75.8 17.5 v high 433%
Kulgera 28.8 +1.0 36.4 6th 16.3 +2.5 7.6 30th 13.9 13.9 high 100%
Rabbit Flat 33.8 -0.3 39.1 6th 19.2 +2.6 11.5 30th 20.2 23.9 high 85%
Watarrka 30.6 0.0 36.4 6th 17.7 +1.1 10.8 30th 22.9 14.6 high 157%
Yuendumu 30.9 +0.9 36.5 6th 17.0 +1.5 11.3 30th 32.2 23.2 high 139%
Yulara Aero 30.8 +0.9 37.9 6th 16.6 +2.2 11.4 28th 14.4 13.8 high 104%
Upper Western (district 37)
Urandangi 32.8 +0.4 37.0 26th 19.1 +2.4 11.8 30th 26.0 13.2 high 197%

Details Extremes 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 9 am on Tuesday 4 May 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 2010. 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

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries

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