Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC22R0

Northern Territory in November 2010: Cooler than normal

  • Coolest November on record in Alice Springs
  • November 2nd was the coolest November day on record for many Top End sites
    • It was Darwin's coolest day since 2007 and 3rd coolest in a decade
  • Two large storms drench Darwin bringing 117.8 mm of rainfall
    • Darwin's monthly rainfall total of 216.8 was the highest in 15 years

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Coolest November day on record

November 2nd was the coolest november day on record across much of the Top End. Darwin Airport recorded a maximum temperature of 25.6 °C which broke the previous record of 26.2 °C set on the 19th of November 1981. Other sites, including Katherine Aviation Museum, Jabiru Airport and Batchelor Aero, also broke records on this day. A total of 14 locations recorded their coolest November day with some sites more than 10 °C below the mean and 1 °C to 2 °C below the previous record. These record low temperatures came as a refreshing break to what is typically the hottest month of the year across the Top End.

Darwin gets drenched

In addition to several seasonal rain events around the Darwin area in the month, two large storms drenched Darwin and its suburbs. The first was on the 17th when 57.8 mm fell at Darwin Airport, of which 22 mm fell in about 10 minutes. This nearly doubled the rainfall total for the month. The next large storm came on the 29th when 60 mm fell at Darwin Airport making it the wettest November day in 8 years. Other stations around Darwin also received significant amounts of rain on the 29th; Marrara recorded 119 mm, Darwin Hospital recorded 69.2 mm and Charles Darwin University also had 69.2 mm.

Record low temperatures in Alice Springs

A series of cool periods across the Alice Springs District kept the monthly mean temperature well below average. The mean daily maximum temperature at Alice Springs Airport was 30.2 °C which makes it the coolest November on record. Not only maximum, but minimum temperatures were also low in Alice Springs for the month. Alice Springs Airport recorded a mean daily minimum temperature of 14.3 °C which is half a degree below the previous lowest of 14.8 °C in 1974.

Rainfall

Both Darwin and Alice Springs measured above average rainfall for November. Darwin Airport monthly total was 216.8 mm which is the highest November total since 1995. Alice Springs ended the month with 61.6 mm which is a little more than double the November mean.

The wettest overall was 330.4 mm at Marrara, followed by 300.1 mm at Charles Darwin University, and then 268.6 mm at CSIRO Berrimah.

Some sites had their lowest total November rainfall on record. These include Litchfield and Howard Springs Nature Park.

The wettest single day was the 28th when128.0 mm fell at Sleisbeck. This was followed by 119.6 mm at Marrara on the 30th, and then 110.2 mm at Darwin River Ridge also on the 30th.

Some sites, including Groote Eylandt Airport and Anzac Oval, had their highest November daily rainfall on record.

Temperature

November 2nd was the coolest November day on record in terms of daily maximum temperature, for several sites including Darwin Airport. The monthly mean maximum temperature at Darwin Airport was 33.0 °C which is the coolest since 1999, and the monthly mean minimum temperature was 24.7 °C which is the coolest since 1964. Alice Springs Airport measured the coolest November on record in terms of both maximum and minimum temperatures. This is the third consecutive month that Alice Springs Airport has measured record low monthly mean maximum temperatures.

Maximum temperature

The hottest day was the 9th with 42.8 °C at Rabbit Flat, followed by 42.1 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 12th, and then 42.0 °C at Lajamanu on the 24th.

The warmest days on average were 38.0 °C at Bradshaw, followed by 37.7 °C at Kidman Springs, followed by 37.7 °C at Timber Creek, and then 37.4 °C at Rabbit Flat.

The coolest days on average were 29.2 °C at Kulgera, followed by 29.5 °C at Arltunga, and then 30.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport.

The coldest day was the 1st with 20.1 °C at Arltunga, followed by 20.4 °C at Arltunga on the 16th, followed by 21.3 °C at Kulgera on the 1st, and then 21.3 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 16th.

Some sites, including Darwin Airport and Katherine Aviation Museum, had their coolest November day (lowest maximum temperature) on record. Some sites, such as Alice Springs Airport, had their lowest November mean daily maximum temperature on record.

Minimum temperature

The coldest night was 4.7 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 1st, followed by 5.4 °C at Kulgera on the 1st, and then 6.6 °C at Arltunga on the 1st.

The coolest nights on average were 13.7 °C at Arltunga, followed by 14.3 °C at Alice Springs Airport, followed by 15.4 °C at both Curtin Springs and Territory Grape Farm.

The warmest nights on average were 27.0 °C at McCluer Island, followed by 26.4 °C at Cape Don.

The warmest night was 29.5 °C at McCluer Island on the 25th.

Some sites, including Kulgera and Ali Curung, had their lowest November temperature on record. Alice Springs was among the sites that had their lowest November mean daily minimum temperature on record.

Wind

The strongest wind gust recorded was 98 km/h at Daly Waters on the 16th, followed by 85 km/h at Rabbit Flat on the 13th and 83 km/h at Maningrida Aero on the 17th.

Further information

NT Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au
Extremes in November 2010
Hottest day 42.8 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 9th
Warmest days on average 38.0 °C at Bradshaw
Coolest days on average 29.2 °C at Kulgera
Coolest day 20.1 °C at Arltunga on the 1st
Coldest night 4.7 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 1st
Coolest nights on average 13.7 °C at Arltunga
Warmest nights on average 27.0 °C at McCluer Island
Warmest night 29.5 °C at McCluer Island on the 25th
Wettest overall 330.4 mm at Marrara
Wettest day 128.0 mm at Sleisbeck on the 28th
Highest wind gust 98 km/h at Daly Waters on the 16th

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest November daily rainfall
Highest daily rainfall (mm) Previous highest
 Years of
record
Waterloo 97.0 on the 28th 96.5 on the 23rd in 1973 89
Helen Springs 63.0 on the 13th 47.0 on the 16th in 1981 60
Wollogorang 92.2 on the 29th 57.4 on the 28th in 2002 31


Record lowest total November rainfall
Total rainfall (mm) Previous lowest Years of
record		 Average for
November
Howard Springs Nature Park 24.0 34.2 in 1979 42 160.3
Keep River Rangers 7.4 12.2 in 1993 27 69.1
Litchfield 7.4 25.1 in 1969 22 118.9


Record lowest November daily maximum temperature
Lowest daily maximum
temperature (°C)		 Previous lowest
 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Darwin Airport 25.6 on the 2nd 26.2 on the 19th in 1981 68 33.3
Daly Waters 24.9 on the 2nd 26.1 on the 2nd in 1955 39 38.2
Jabiru Airport 28.6 on the 2nd = 28.6 on the 26th in 1985 31 36.9
Pirlangimpi 27.5 on the 2nd 28.7 on the 19th in 1981 26 33.4
Katherine Aviation Museum 25.6 on the 2nd 27.5 on the 20th in 1989 25 37.5


Record lowest November mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature (°C)		 Previous lowest
 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Alice Springs Airport 30.2 30.3 in 1943 69 33.6
Jervois 32.5 33.3 in 1999 40 36.0
McArthur River Mine 36.4 37.1 in 1970 29 38.7
Kulgera 29.2 29.7 in 1999 29 33.4


Record lowest November temperature
Lowest temperature (°C) Previous lowest
 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Kulgera 5.4 on the 1st 6.0 on the 10th in 1999 29 18.4
Ali Curung 11.3 on the 4th 12.4 on the 24th in 1996 20 21.4


Record lowest November mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature (°C)		 Previous lowest
 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Alice Springs Airport 14.3 14.8 in 1974 69 17.9
Larrimah 22.4 22.7 in 1969 43 24.3
Victoria River Downs 22.0 22.8 in 1996 42 24.6
Daly Waters 21.1 21.2 in 2006 39 23.8
Kulgera 15.6 = 15.6 in 1992 29 18.4
Mango Farm 22.2 22.4 in 1999 29 23.4
Timber Creek 23.2 23.6 in 1996 29 25.3
Tindal RAAF 23.0 23.3 in 1999 21 25.1


Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for November 2010
Maximum temperatures (°C) Minimum temperatures (°C) Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean Diff
from
average		 Highest Mean Diff
from
average		 Lowest Total Average
 Rank Fraction of
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Aero 34.8 -0.8 37.4 22nd 23.4 -0.6 19.8 3rd 93.2 131.9 average 71%
Bradshaw 38.0 -0.4 40.9 22nd 24.2 -1.4 17.8 3rd 18.6 111.3 v low 17%
Cape Don 33.4   35.0 18th 26.4   23.6 5th 89.8 95.4 average 94%
Central Arnhem Plateau 33.9   37.6 23rd 22.1   15.4 3rd 114.8
Channel Point 32.3 -0.6 33.9 24th 24.7 -0.4 21.5 3rd 78.2 124.7 low 63%
Darwin Airport 33.0 -0.3 34.3 20th 24.7 -0.7 20.6 3rd 216.8 139.0 high 156%
Delamere Weapons Range 36.0 -1.7 39.8 9th 22.9 -2.0 17.2 3rd 115.2 65.2 high 177%
Douglas River 35.9 -1.0 39.6 24th 22.5 -1.0 18.8 3rd 71.8 114.8 low 63%
Dum In Mirrie 32.6 -0.4 33.8 23rd 25.8 -0.3 21.3 3rd 110.4 131.0 average 84%
Jabiru Airport 35.6 -1.3 38.1 9th 24.7 -0.2 22.2 3rd 113.2 143.5 average 79%
Katherine Aviation Museum 36.1 -1.4 38.7 15th 23.0 -1.7 16.7 6th 65.2 84.6 average 77%
Mango Farm 35.9 -0.5 38.5 21st 22.2 -1.2 18.5 8th 98.7 128.4 average 77%
McCluer Island 32.5 +0.3 33.8 25th 27.0 -0.2 23.9 1st 84.2 26.8 v high 314%
Middle Point 35.3   37.6 13th 22.8   19.6 3rd 64.6
Noonamah 35.2   37.5 9th 23.3   19.9 3rd 198.4
Pine Creek Council 34.6 -2.1 37.1 22nd 23.3 -1.2 19.7 3rd 83.2 110.2 low 75%
Pirlangimpi 34.0 +0.6 35.7 8th 24.0 -0.2 22.8 18th 194.0 193.5 average 100%
Point Fawcett 32.5 -0.6 33.8 23rd 24.2 -1.1 21.4 4th 61.8 125.8 low 49%
Port Keats Aero 34.2 -0.2 36.2 20th 24.3 -1.2 20.9 3rd 67.4 78.6 average 86%
Tindal RAAF 35.6 -1.7 38.3 26th 23.0 -2.1 16.7 6th 46.0 96.0 average 48%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Gove Airport 32.5 -0.6 33.8 26th 23.6 +0.2 20.9 5th 151.2 43.0 v high 352%
Groote Eylandt Airport 33.1 -1.4 35.8 13th 22.6 -0.9 16.4 6th 240.6 107.5 v high 224%
Maningrida Aero 33.5   36.4 6th 23.9   20.7 3rd 149.6
Milingimbi 33.8   36.1 17th 24.6   20.7 3rd 37.8
Ngayawili 33.2 0.0 34.6 10th 24.5 +0.1 21.0 5th 90.6 65.0 average 139%
North East Island 32.6   34.5 28th 25.9   21.6 1st 126.4 43.4 v high 291%
Warruwi 33.5 -0.1 35.4 17th 25.8 -0.6 22.6 3rd 81.2 56.7 high 143%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola 36.0 -1.4 39.0 20th 22.2 -1.7 16.9 5th 27.2 75.2 average 36%
Bulman 35.6   38.1 25th 22.7   17.0 6th 82.2
Centre Island 33.9 -0.7 37.2 17th 25.9 -0.9 21.8 1st 24.4 37.2 average 66%
Daly Waters 35.8 -2.4 40.0 25th 21.1 -2.7 14.2 6th 46.6 42.7 average 109%
Larrimah 36.7 -1.2 40.1 25th 22.4 -1.9 17.5 3rd 29.2 65.0 average 45%
McArthur River Mine 36.4 -2.3 39.5 21st 22.4 -1.7 16.7 5th 22.6 49.8 average 45%
Ngukurr 37.3 -1.7 40.0 24th 24.3 -0.7 19.6 3rd 73.8 40.8 high 181%
Wollogorang 35.7 -1.9 39.2 21st 21.7 -0.8 15.0 5th 137.1 62.0 v high 221%
Victoria (district 14F)
Kidman Springs 37.7 -1.3 41.6 24th 23.2 -1.9 17.4 4th 130.1 56.4 v high 231%
Lajamanu 37.3 -1.0 42.0 24th 20.9 -2.3 12.4 3rd 64.4 31.5 high 204%
Timber Creek 37.7 -0.8 41.5 24th 23.2 -2.1 16.2 6th 75.8 80.3 average 94%
Victoria River Downs 36.6 -1.9 40.8 24th 22.0 -2.6 16.3 3rd 33.6 58.8 average 57%
Wave Hill 37.1 -1.6 41.7 25th 21.9 -1.9 14.3 3rd 78.7 57.1 high 138%
Barkly (district 15A)
Brunette Downs 35.4 -2.6 40.8 24th 21.5 -1.5 15.3 5th 56.7 28.8 high 197%
Tennant Creek Airport 34.7 -1.8 40.4 24th 21.7 -2.1 17.5 1st 81.0 37.4 v high 217%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 30.2 -3.4 35.5 23rd 14.3 -3.6 4.7 1st 61.6 28.2 high 218%
Arltunga 29.5 -4.2 35.7 12th 13.7 -4.8 6.6 1st 74.8 30.5 high 245%
Curtin Springs 31.4 -3.0 38.5 24th 15.4 -2.5 7.9 1st 19.2 22.5 average 85%
Jervois 32.5 -3.5 39.1 12th 16.2 -2.6 7.1 1st 10.8 23.9 average 45%
Kulgera 29.2 -4.2 36.0 24th 15.6 -2.8 5.4 1st 51.9 23.9 v high 217%
Rabbit Flat 37.4 -1.5 42.8 9th 19.7 -2.5 10.6 4th 71.8 34.4 high 209%
Territory Grape Farm 32.4 -3.2 37.6 25th 15.4 -3.2 7.8 1st 20.0 32.9 average 61%
Walungurru 34.8   40.4 24th 21.1   13.8 1st 10.8
Yuendumu 33.0 -2.1 38.4 24th 16.9 -2.9 10.4 1st 27.4 31.3 average 88%
Yulara Aero 31.4 -3.6 38.5 11th 16.0 -2.3 8.6 1st 21.8 35.2 average 62%

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 8 am on Wednesday 1 December 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