Thursday, 1 July 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC22R0

Northern Territory in June 2010: The Dry Season arrives

After an unusually warm and wet May, the Dry Season kicked in during June across all of the Territory. Maximum and minimum temperatures were typical of what we normally see in June.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

June rainfall across the Territory was average to below average, with totals greater than 1 mm confined to north-eastern Arnhem Land and the western and central parts of the Alice Springs District.

The wettest place overall was Cape Wessel with 24.2 mm, followed by Yirrkala Tropical Gardens with 24.0 mm, and Gove Airport with 17.2 mm.

The wettest single day was 11.0 mm at Gove Airport on the 19th, followed by 10.0 mm at Yirrkala Tropical Gardens also on the 19th, and then 8.0 mm at Yirrkala Tropical Gardens on the 8th.

Maximum temperature

Average maximum temperatures were mostly within 1 °C of the long-term average, with warmer temperatures in the north and cooler in central and southern parts. Average maximum temperatures were the highest on record at a few locations across the north coast. Further inland, temperatures were above average over northern parts of the Darwin - Daly and Arnhem districts. At the other end of the spectrum, temperatures were below average across south-western parts of the Victoria River and Barkly districts, and over north-eastern parts of the Alice Springs District.

The hottest day for June was 35.6 °C at Bradshaw on the 25th, followed by 35.3 °C at Noonamah on the 26th.

The warmest days on average were 32.6 °C at Noonamah, followed by 32.4 °C at Jabiru Airport, and then 32.2 °C at Middle Point.

The coolest days on average were 18.2 °C at Arltunga and Kulgera, followed by 19.0 °C at Alice Springs Airport.

The coldest day was 11.6 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 30th, followed by 11.9 °C at Walungurru also on the 30th.

Some sites had their highest June temperature on record. Some sites had their highest June mean daily maximum temperature on record.

Minimum temperature

Average minimum temperatures were mostly within 1 °C of the long-term average across most of the Territory. In the north, temperatures were generally warmer than average, whilst in central and southern parts it was cooler.

The coldest nights were -2.7 °C at Alice Springs Airport and Arltunga, both recorded on the 15th, followed by -1.5 °C at Arltunga on the 16th.

The coolest nights on average were 3.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport, followed by 3.7 °C at Arltunga, and then 4.5 °C at Kulgera.

The warmest nights on average were 24.4 °C at Cape Don, followed by 22.8 °C at Warruwi.

The hottest night was 26.3 °C at Cape Don on the 28th.

Some sites had their hottest June night on record.

Wind

The strongest wind gust was 69 km/h at Centre Island on the 30th, followed by 63 km/h at Tennant Creek Airport on the 10th.

Further information

NT Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au
Extremes in June 2010
Hottest day 35.6°C at Bradshaw on the 25th
Warmest days on average 32.6 °C at Noonamah
Coolest days on average 18.2 °C at Arltunga
18.2 °C at Kulgera
Coldest day 11.6 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 30th
Coldest night -2.7 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 15th
-2.7 °C at Arltunga on the 15th
Coolest nights on average 3.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Warmest nights on average 24.4 °C at Cape Don
Hottets night 26.3 °C at Cape Don on the 28th
Wettest overall 24.2 mm at Cape Wessel
Wettest day 11.0 mm at Gove Airport on the 19th
Highest wind gust 69 km/h at Centre Island on the 30th

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top


Record highest June mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature (°C)		 Previous highest Years of
record		 Average for
June
Warruwi 30.4 = 30.4 in 2003 42 29.3
Black Point 31.0 30.8 in 2003 16 30.0
Dum In Mirrie 31.3 = 31.3 in 2003 10 30.5


Record highest June daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature (°C)		 Previous highest Years of
record		 Average for
June
Ngayawili 24.0 on the 25th = 24.0 on the 18th in 2002 10 20.4

Summary statistics for June 2010
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(mm)
Mean Diff
from
average		 Highest Mean Diff
from
average		 Lowest Total Average Rank Fraction of
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Aero 31.2 -0.3 34.2 26th 17.7 +0.6 12.0 5th 0 0.5 lowest 0%
Black Point 31.0 +1.0 32.6 27th 22.5 +0.8 18.3 5th 0 3.6 lowest 0%
Bradshaw 31.2   35.6 25th 15.1   11.9 4th 0
Cape Don 30.0   31.7 26th 24.4   22.3 5th 0 2.9 lowest 0%
Central Arnhem Plateau 28.3   30.5 24th 16.2   10.4 1st 0
Channel Point 29.1 0.0 32.7 24th 17.6 0.0 14.4 5th 0 1.3 lowest 0%
Darwin Airport 31.1 +0.5 33.2 26th 20.2 +0.3 16.0 5th 0 2.0 lowest 0%
Delamere Weapons Range 29.0 -0.1 32.6 25th 15.6 +0.4 11.0 4th 0 3.6 lowest 0%
Douglas River 30.3 -0.9 34.4 25th 14.5 +0.9 10.0 8th 0 2.5 lowest 0%
Dum In Mirrie 31.3 +0.8 33.5 24th 19.6 +0.6 15.7 5th 0 2.7 lowest 0%
Jabiru Airport 32.4 +0.7 34.4 24th 20.9 +1.7 14.9 5th 0 1.2 lowest 0%
Katherine Aviation Museum 29.6 -0.6 32.2 25th 14.1 +0.1 9.1 5th 0 0.5 lowest 0%
Mango Farm 31.0 -0.3 34.5 24th 15.7 0.0 9.6 5th 0 0.3 lowest 0%
Middle Point 32.2   34.9 26th 15.4   10.4 5th 0
Noonamah 32.6   35.3 26th 17.6   12.8 5th 0
Pine Creek Council 29.6 -0.4 32.8 25th 17.1 +0.1 13.8 4th 0 0.5 lowest 0%
Pirlangimpi 31.9 +0.8 33.7 26th 19.7 +1.0 15.1 5th 0 4.4 lowest 0%
Point Fawcett 29.5 0.0 31.6 25th 18.6 -0.6 13.9 5th 0 8.2 lowest 0%
Port Keats Aero 30.6   33.4 24th 17.2   12.6 5th 0
Tindal RAAF 29.6 -0.3 32.7 25th 13.6 -0.7 9.5 4th 0 0.9 lowest 0%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Alyangula Police 28.4 -0.2 30.5 25th 20.0 +1.1 16.9 6th 0 10.2 lowest 0%
Gove Airport 28.8 +0.5 29.7 26th 22.3 +1.0 17.8 3rd 17.2 33.3 average 52%
Groote Eylandt Airport 29.0 0.0 31.1 24th 17.9 +1.2 12.3 4th 1.6 6.5 average 25%
Maningrida Aero 31.2   33.4 26th 19.9   15.1 5th 0
Milingimbi 31.4   33.4 26th 20.3   16.0 5th 0
Ngayawili 30.3 +0.7 31.7 26th 20.9 +0.5 16.1 3rd 0 5.5 lowest 0%
Warruwi 30.4 +1.1 32.3 27th 22.8 +0.9 20.2 5th 0 2.6 lowest 0%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola 29.5 -0.8 32.4 26th 11.4 -1.8 7.2 1st 0.2 2.7 average 7%
Bulman 30.0   32.5 18th 14.7   8.4 4th 0
Centre Island 26.4 -0.4 29.1 18th 19.4 -0.1 17.7 11th 0.4 7.5 average 5%
Daly Waters 29.2 +0.5 32.8 25th 12.9 -0.3 7.6 1st 0 3.2 lowest 0%
Larrimah 29.3 0.0 32.5 24th 12.2 -1.0 8.9 5th 0 4.1 lowest 0%
McArthur River Mine 29.9 +0.1 33.1 25th 13.1 +0.5 8.4 1st 0 1.8 lowest 0%
Ngukurr 29.1 -1.0 32.6 23rd 16.5 0.0 13.2 5th 0 5.3 lowest 0%
Wollogorang 28.3 -0.7 31.9 18th 11.5 -0.6 7.8 1st 0 3.2 lowest 0%
Victoria (district 14F)
Kidman Springs 29.9 +0.1 34.0 25th 13.4 +0.3 9.9 11th 0 4.0 lowest 0%
Lajamanu 25.7 -0.9 30.1 25th 9.8 -0.1 6.5 22nd 0 4.6 lowest 0%
Timber Creek 30.3 -0.1 34.4 27th 15.7 +0.1 10.3 5th 0 3.0 lowest 0%
Victoria River Downs 29.7 +0.5 33.8 29th 11.7 -0.4 8.9 4th 0 2.7 lowest 0%
Wave Hill 27.6 -0.5 32.0 25th 11.6 +0.2 8.0 4th 0 5.0 lowest 0%
Barkly (district 15A)
Elliott 28.4 -0.1 33.6 25th 11.8 -0.6 8.0 1st 0 5.0 lowest 0%
Tennant Creek Airport 23.4 -1.1 28.7 25th 12.1 -0.8 8.8 1st 0 5.4 lowest 0%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Ali Curung 22.7 -1.5 28.4 25th 7.6 -0.7 4.6 16th 0 5.8 lowest 0%
Alice Springs Airport 19.0 -0.8 25.7 24th 3.2 -1.9 -2.7 15th 0 14.3 lowest 0%
Arltunga 18.2   24.9 24th 3.7   -2.7 15th 1.0 17.1 average 6%
Curtin Springs 19.5 -0.7 25.4 24th 5.5 +0.6 -0.4 15th 0 14.4 lowest 0%
Jervois 20.3 -1.8 26.7 25th 6.4 0.0 1.9 15th 0.2 11.2 average 2%
Kulgera 18.2 -0.8 24.9 24th 4.5 -1.0 -1.1 14th 0 16.8 lowest 0%
Rabbit Flat 25.3 -0.3 30.0 25th 8.3 +0.6 5.9 4th 0 8.7 lowest 0%
Territory Grape Farm 21.1 -1.3 26.3 17th 5.4 -0.9 -0.3 15th
Walungurru 22.8   29.4 18th 11.8   8.6 15th 0.8
Watarrka 20.4 -1.0 26.5 24th 6.3 -0.6 0.9 15th 4.0 18.3 average 22%
Yuendumu 21.8 -0.3 28.5 18th 7.5 -0.2 3.5 15th 4.4 13.5 average 33%
Yulara Aero 19.7 -0.8 26.2 17th 5.7 +0.1 0.4 16th 0.2 19.5 average 1%

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 10 am on Thursday 1 July 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 2009. 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 Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au