Thursday, 30 June 2011 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in June 2011: a month of cold records

June 2011 will go down in the record books as the 2nd coldest June on records territorywide:

  • Coldest June on record for minimum temperatures across the NT
  • Night-time temperatures dropped below 20 °C in Darwin, every night, for the first time in June
  • Record coolest June for Darwin

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Darwin feels the chill

Throughout June, Darwin managed to drop below the 20 °C mark every night for the first time since records began in 1941. The 30 nights in June added to the last 7 nights of the previous month, resulting in 37 nights in a row dipping below 20 °C. Even though this has happened before (this is the 4th longest streak of cool nights in Darwin), this is the first time it has happened this early in the dry season. On the morning of 14 June, temperatures dropped to 12.7 °C, the coolest night since July 2008 and the third coolest of the decade. Similarly, the Greater Darwin and the rural areas also experinced their coolest night temperature since 2008.

When combining both maximum and minimum temperatures, June 2011 mean average stands at 22.6 °C, this is the coolest June on record and the second coolest month ever recorded, following July 1965 with a mean temperature of 22.5 °C.

Another cold streak for the Alice

Alice Springs continued to experience below average night-time temperatures throughout June, enduring 10 nights in a row below 1 °C. This is their longest streak of below 1 °C temperatures for any month since June 2002. Although daytime temperatures were overall close to average, temperatures only got to 11.3 °C on the 9 June. Moreover, the second week in June was characterised by 6 days in a row where the mercury failed to reach 15 °C, the longest streak of below 15 °C for any month since 1998.

The coolest start for the dry season

Area averaged, the Northern Territory has experienced it coldest start to the dry season (May and June) on record. This was associated with cool daytime temperatures and cold night-time temperatures. Maximum temperatures were on average 2.56 °C below the historical mean, while night-time temperatures were 3.16 degrees below the norm. Territorywide average night-time temperatures where the lowest on record for June, while daytime temperatures where the 8th coolest on record. Both maximum and minimum combined led to the 2nd coldest June on record across the Northern Territory.

Rainfall

Even though June tends to be a dry month across the Northern Territory, isolated showers are common along the eastern Top End and occasionally observed over the southern districts. However, nearly persistent dry and cool southeasterly winds prevented the incursion of warm and humid easterly flow across the Top End for most of June. This led to below average rainfall across the Top End, with Gove airport registering its driest June on record.

On the other hand, central and southwestern districs received above average rainfall for this time of the year, as a deep low in the second week of the month was responsible for widespread showers in the area. Tobermorey with 16.2 mm had its wettest June day on record. The wettest single day was at Yulara with 26.8 mm on the 8th, followed by Walungurru with 26.4 mm on the 9th, and then Vaughan Springs with 17.0 mm on the 9th.

The wettest overall was Yulara with 47.6 mm, followed by Walungurru with 37.4 mm, and then Yuendumu with 31.2 mm.

Temperature

Both maximum and minimum teperatures were below average across most of the Northern Territory, with the exception of the far southeast Alice Springs district where maximum temperatures remain about average. Cold night temperatures across the Territory led to the lowest June night-time temperatures across parts of the Darwin-Daly, northern Roper-McArthur, the Barkly and the Victoria River districts. Averaged across the Territory, June minimum temperature was the coolest on record. The coldest nights were all at Arltunga with -5.0 °C on the 1st, followed -4.9 °C on the 20th, and -4.1 °C on the 19th. The coldest nights on average were at Arltunga with 1.1 °C, followed by Alice Springs Airport with 2.4 °C, and then Territory Grape Farm with 3.1 °C.

Daytime temperatures were also below average north of about Alice Springs. Areas across the base of the Top End and the Victoria River district were very much below average. Area averaged, the Northern Territory had its 6th coolest June, 1.74 °C below the long term average. The coldest day was at Arltunga with 10.8 °C on the 9th, followed by Yuendumu with 11.0 °C on the 9th, and then Alice Springs Airport with 11.3 °C on the 9th. The coolest days on average were at Arltunga with 18.9 °C, followed by Kulgera with 19.1 °C, and then Yulara with 19.3 °C.

The hottest day was at Noonamah with 34.4 °C on the 26th, followed also by Noonamah with 33.8 °C on the 25th, and then Middle Point with 33.8 °C on the 26th. The warmest days on average were at Noonamah with 30.4 °C, followed by Jabiru Airport with 30.3 °C, and then Middle Point with 29.9 °C.

When combining daytime and night-time temperatures together, parts of the Darwin-Daly, The Victoria, The Barkly and the Roper-McArthur districts had their lowest June on record. Moreover, territorywide, the Northern Territory had its 2nd coldest June on record, 2.46 °C below the long term average. The coolest on average was Arltunga with 10.0 °C, followed by Alice Springs Airport with 10.9 °C, and then Kulgera with 11.5 °C.

Wind

The strongest wind gust was recorded at Douglas River on the 13th and McCluer Island on the 17th with 61 km/h, followed by 57 km/h recorded at Walungurru on the 12th and Centre Island on the 13th.

Further information

NT Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au
Extremes in June 2011
Hottest day 34.4 °C at Noonamah on the 26th
Warmest days on average 30.4 °C at Noonamah
Coolest days on average 18.9 °C at Arltunga
Coldest day 10.8 °C at Arltunga on the 9th
Coldest night -5.0 °C at Arltunga on the 1st
Coolest nights on average 1.1 °C at Arltunga
Warmest nights on average 21.8 °C at North East Island
Warmest night 24.6 °C at Cape Don on the 10th
Warmest on average overall 24.7 °C at Cape Don
Coolest on average overall 10.0 °C at Arltunga
Wettest overall 47.6 mm at Yulara Aero
Wettest day 26.8 mm at Yulara Aero on the 8th
Highest wind gust 61 km/h at Douglas River on the 13th

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest June daily rainfall
Highest daily rainfall
in June 2011 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for June		 Years of
record
Tobermorey 16.2 on the 9th 14.2 on the 1st in 1993 28



Record lowest total June rainfall
Total rainfall
for June 2011 (mm)		 Previous driest
for June		 Years of
record		 Average for
June
Gove Airport 0.2 0.4 in 2009 34 33.3


Record lowest June daily maximum temperature
Lowest daily maximum
temperature
in June 2011 (°C)		 Previous coolest
for June		 Years of
record		 Average for
June
Oenpelli 25.9 on the 14th 26.1 on the 26th in 1971 46 32.1
Point Fawcett 23.4 on the 13th 24.0 on the 12th in 2000 12 29.5
Groote Eylandt Airport 21.4 on the 11th 22.0 on the 20th in 2007 11 29.0


Record lowest June mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for June 2011 (°C)		 Previous coolest
for June		 Years of
record		 Average for
June
Pirlangimpi 29.6 29.7 in 2007 27 31.1
Batchelor Aero 29.3 29.5 in 2007 11 31.5
Dum In Mirrie 28.8 29.3 in 2000 11 30.5



Record lowest June temperature
Lowest temperature
in June 2011 (°C) 		Previous coolest
for June		 Years of
record		 Average for
June
Centre Island 13.2 on the 11th 13.8 on the 15th in 1985 35 19.5
Mango Farm 5.1 on the 14th 5.8 on the 22nd in 1995 29 15.7
Territory Grape Farm -2.1 on the 1st -1.9 on the 30th in 2002 17 6.3
Point Fawcett 8.2 on the 15th 9.2 on the 30th in 2007 12 19.2
Dum In Mirrie 10.0 on the 15th 11.0 on the 29th in 2007 11 19.0
Ngayawili 10.5 on the 15th 11.6 on the 29th in 2007 10 20.4
Pine Creek Council 9.8 on the 14th 10.0 on the 2nd in 2000 10 17.0


Record lowest June mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for June 2011 (°C) 		Previous coolest
for June		 Years of
record		 Average for
June
Darwin Airport 16.1 16.8 in 1949 69 19.9
Larrimah 7.7 10.1 in 2002 45 13.2
Warruwi 19.4 20.0 in 1967 43 21.9
Victoria River Downs 7.5 8.1 in 1976 42 12.1
Yuendumu 4.5 = 4.5 in 1976 41 7.7
Daly Waters 6.9 9.6 in 1946 40 13.2
Centre Island 16.7 17.1 in 1977 35 19.5
Wave Hill 7.3 7.9 in 2002 35 11.4
Jabiru Airport 16.6 16.8 in 1985 33 19.2
Gove Airport 19.3 19.6 in 1967 31 21.3
Mango Farm 11.6 12.9 in 1988 29 15.7
Timber Creek 11.0 13.2 in 2004 29 15.6
Alyangula Police 15.2 16.4 in 1995 27 18.9
Pirlangimpi 15.8 16.5 in 1988 27 18.7
Katherine Aviation Museum 9.2 10.9 in 1946 25 14.0
Tindal RAAF 9.7 11.1 in 2004 22 14.3
Borroloola 8.4 10.9 in 2004 16 13.2
Lajamanu 5.7 7.5 in 2006 16 9.9
Delamere Weapons Range 11.3 14.1 in 2004 13 15.2
Kidman Springs 8.3 10.3 in 2002 13 13.1
Point Fawcett 13.4 16.8 in 2006 12 19.2
Batchelor Aero 12.7 15.1 in 2004 11 17.1
Dum In Mirrie 14.6 17.2 in 2002 11 19.0
Groote Eylandt Airport 12.3 14.8 in 2004 11 16.7
McCluer Island 21.5 21.8 in 2000 11 23.5
Ngayawili 18.0 18.5 in 2004 10 20.4
Pine Creek Council 13.5 15.6 in 2000 10 17.0


Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for June 2011
Maximum temperatures
for June
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for June
(°C)		 Rainfall
for June
(millimetres)
Mean for
June
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
June
2011		 Mean for
June
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
June
2011		 Total for
June
2011		 Average
for
June		 Rank of
June
2011		 Fraction of
June
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Aero 29.3 -2.2 33.1 26th 12.7 -4.4 8.0 16th 0 0.5 lowest 0%
Bradshaw 29.0   32.3 8th 11.4   6.7 13th 0
Cape Don 27.9   30.9 26th 21.6   18.7 15th 0 2.9 lowest 0%
Central Arnhem Plateau 26.8   30.8 8th 12.7   7.9 16th 0
Darwin Airport 28.9 -1.7 32.6 26th 16.1 -3.8 12.7 14th 0 2.0 lowest 0%
Delamere Weapons Range 26.9 -2.2 30.8 8th 11.3 -3.9 6.6 18th 0 3.6 lowest 0%
Douglas River 29.0 -2.2 32.5 26th 9.9 -3.7 4.1 16th 0 2.5 lowest 0%
Dum In Mirrie 28.8 -1.7 32.1 26th 14.6 -4.4 10.0 15th 0 2.7 lowest 0%
Jabiru Airport 30.3 -1.4 33.5 26th 16.6 -2.6 10.7 14th 0 1.2 lowest 0%
Katherine Aviation Museum 27.5 -2.7 31.4 8th 9.2 -4.8 5.5 16th 0 0.5 lowest 0%
Mango Farm 28.9 -2.4 32.0 26th 11.6 -4.1 5.1 14th 0 0.3 lowest 0%
McCluer Island 26.7 -1.3 29.9 9th 21.5 -2.0 19.0 14th 0 11.1 lowest 0%
Middle Point 29.9   33.8 26th 11.1   6.3 17th 0
Noonamah 30.4   34.4 26th 11.8   8.4 20th 0
Pine Creek Council 27.8 -2.2 32.1 8th 13.5 -3.5 9.8 14th 0 0.5 lowest 0%
Pirlangimpi 29.6 -1.5 32.8 26th 15.8 -2.9 11.1 14th 0 4.4 lowest 0%
Point Fawcett 27.9 -1.6 31.3 26th 13.4 -5.8 8.2 15th 0 8.2 lowest 0%
Port Keats Aero 29.1   32.5 26th 13.7   8.6 14th 0
Tindal RAAF 27.7 -2.2 31.2 9th 9.7 -4.6 6.0 15th 0 0.9 lowest 0%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Alyangula Police 26.9 -1.7 31.0 8th 15.2 -3.7 11.5 13th 0 10.2 lowest 0%
Gove Airport 27.7 -0.6 30.5 9th 19.3 -2.0 15.0 20th 0.2 33.3 lowest 1%
Groote Eylandt Airport 27.6 -1.4 31.6 8th 12.3 -4.4 7.1 14th 0.4 6.5 average 6%
Maningrida Aero 29.4   32.6 26th 15.6   8.8 15th 0
Milingimbi 29.6   32.2 8th 16.9   11.0 15th 0
Ngayawili 28.8 -0.8 31.7 9th 18.0 -2.4 10.5 15th 0 5.5 lowest 0%
North East Island 26.1   29.1 8th 21.8   19.7 13th 0 5.6 lowest 0%
Warruwi 27.6 -1.7 30.6 7th 19.4 -2.5 15.5 15th 13.0 2.6 v high 500%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola 27.8 -2.5 31.4 8th 8.4 -4.8 4.6 13th 0.4 2.7 average 15%
Bulman 28.4   32.7 8th 10.9   5.5 15th 0
Centre Island 24.8 -2.0 27.7 8th 16.7 -2.8 13.2 11th 1.2 7.5 average 16%
Daly Waters 26.7 -2.0 30.6 8th 6.9 -6.3 2.0 14th 0 3.2 lowest 0%
Larrimah 27.2 -2.1 30.8 8th 7.7 -5.5 3.4 13th 0 4.1 lowest 0%
McArthur River Mine 28.2 -1.6 32.1 8th 9.0 -3.6 4.8 19th 0.4 1.8 high 22%
Wollogorang 27.4 -1.6 31.9 8th 8.4 -3.7 4.1 18th 0.7 3.2 high 22%
Victoria (district 14F)
Kidman Springs     31.2 8th 8.3 -4.8 4.3 16th 0 3.9 lowest 0%
Lajamanu 24.7 -1.9 29.4 7th 5.7 -4.2 1.7 14th 3.8 4.6 high 83%
Timber Creek 28.3 -2.1 32.0 7th 11.0 -4.6 6.0 19th 0 3.0 lowest 0%
Victoria River Downs 27.3 -1.9 31.0 8th 7.5 -4.6 3.9 15th 0 2.7 lowest 0%
Wave Hill 25.6 -2.5 29.7 7th 7.3 -4.1 2.8 2nd 1.0 5.0 high 20%
Barkly (district 15A)
Tennant Creek Airport 22.5 -2.0 28.0 7th 10.0 -2.9 5.7 11th 10.0 5.4 high 185%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 19.5 -0.3 26.7 5th 2.4 -2.7 -3.4 15th 8.8 14.3 average 62%
Arltunga 18.9   25.7 5th 1.1   -5.0 1st 9.6 17.1 average 56%
Curtin Springs 19.6 -0.6 27.5 5th 5.4 +0.5 -0.2 16th 25.8 14.4 high 179%
Jervois 20.5 -1.6 26.7 6th 5.0 -1.4 -0.3 1st 9.8 11.2 average 88%
Kulgera 19.1 +0.1 26.8 5th 4.1 -1.4 -1.1 15th 23.8 16.8 high 142%
Papunya 21.2   26.3 4th 5.7   0.7 19th 3.8 16.6 average 23%
Rabbit Flat 23.3 -2.3 28.7 6th 4.7 -3.0 0.7 16th 11.0 8.7 high 126%
Territory Grape Farm 21.2 -1.2 27.4 5th 3.1 -3.2 -2.1 1st 14.8 9.8 high 151%
Walungurru 22.3   29.1 5th 10.0   4.7 13th 37.4
Yuendumu 20.9 -1.2 27.4 5th 4.5 -3.2 0.2 1st 31.2 13.5 high 231%
Yulara Aero 19.3 -1.2 27.0 5th 4.6 -1.0 -0.7 16th 47.6 19.5 v high 244%

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 30 June 2011. 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