Wednesday, 31 October 2012 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC22R0

Northern Territory in October 2012: A dry start to the wet

• Below average rainfall across the Territory
• Hot days across the south and the Top End
• Relatively cool nights throughtout

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Hottest October day for Alice Springs

On October 24th at 14:30 hours, the temperature at the Alice Springs Airport reached 41.7 C, equaling the previous hottest Ocotber day record set on 18 October 2002. This came at the end of a hot spell for the Alice Springs which saw 9 consecutive days above 37 °C, a new record for an October hot spell of that magnitude.

Darwin Northern Suburb wettest October

On the morning of Sunday the 29th, a slow moving trough crossed over the western Top End. The rainfall was a classic example of very localised heavy rainfall over Darwin as both the northern suburbs and the region from Humpty Doo to the Cox Peninsula received more than 40 mm while the Airport and the immidiate suburbs to the south, including the city, missed out (The Airport recorded only 6 mm for the day). Leanyer managed to pick up 110.8 mm, their highest October daily total in 23 years worth of records.

Rainfall

October heralds the beginnig of the wet season across northern Australia, however, raingauges across most of the NT were left empty. Areas across the southern Darwin - Daly, Roper McArthur and Barkly received below average rainfall while Victoria River and eastern Alice Springs Districs were very much below average. Area averaged, the Northern Territory only managed to receive 5.77 mm of rain, well below the average of 18.82 mm.

Throughout October, rain fell over Darwin Airport on 10 days, 3 more rain days that the average, yet it only manage to received 14.6 mm of rain which is well below the monthly average of 71.0 mm. Conversely over the south, Uluru just managed 0.4 mm of rain (average is 26.7 mm) and Alice Springs 0.6 (average is 21.7 mm). Only the Tiwi Islands, Darwin's northern suburbs, and the far southeastern corner of the Arnhem Land managed to get above average rainfall with Pirlangimpi picking up 166.4 mm of rain in 13 days, nearly twice as much as their monthly average rainfall of 83.6 mm.

The wettest overall was Pirlangimpi with 166.4 mm, followed by Leanyer with 147.2 mm and then by CSIRO Berrimah with 109.1 mm.

The wettest single day was on the 28th when Leanyer recieved 110.8 mm (their highest October daily rainfall on record), followed by The Chase with 79.0 mm and then by Karama had 74.4 mm.

Temperature

During Ocotber, the overall mean temperature (average of daily maximum and daily minimum temperature) was above average across the far southern NT and the Tiwi Islands while below average mean temperatures were only observed in the far southern Darwin - Daly and Victoria River districs. Everywhere else across the Territory was average with a mean area averaged temperature of 27.3 °C.

The warmest on average was Bradshaw with 31.6 °C, followed by Timber Creek with 31.0 °C and then Jabiru Airport with 30.8 °C.

The coolest on average was Arltunga with 22.5 °C, followed by Alice Springs Airport with 23.4 °C and then Kulgera with 23.4 °C.

Maximum temperature

Maximum temperatures were above average across the Top End and the Alice Springs District, with areas in the far south and far northwest experiencing very much above average. During the month, two hot spells affected the southern NT as high pressure systems over the Tasman directed hot northerly winds across the region ahead of slow moving troughs. The first hot spell earlier in the month was short lived as it lasted only from about the 5th to the 9th bringing daytime temperautres 7 to 8 °C warmer than usual. Maximum temperatures in the Roper - McArthur, Victoria River and Bakly Districs were around average just a degree cooler than the norm. The second hot spell lasted from about the 16th to the 24th with temperatures up to 10 C warmer than usual. Alice Springs Airport recorded 11 consecutive days above their monthly average, including 9 days above 37 °C. Alice Springs Airport tied their highest October temperature on record with 41.7 °C on the 24th. Overall, when averaged across the NT, the mean daily maximum temperature for the month was 35.5 C, just one degree above normal.

The hottest day this month was recorded at Rabbit Flat with 42.8 °C on the 10th, followed by Lajamanu with 42.2 °C on the same day, and then Walungurru with 42.2 °C on the 23rd.

The warmest days on average were at Bradshaw with 39.2 °C, followed by Timber Creek with 39.0 °C, and then by Douglas River with 38.5 °C.

The coolest days on average were at McCluer Island with 30.5 °C, followed by North East Island with 31.5 °C and then by Arltunga with 31.6 °C.

The coldest day was at Arltunga with 20.4 °C on the 26th, followed by Jervois with 21.6 °C also on the 26th and then by Arltunga with 22.0 °C on the 12th.

Minimum temperature

Daily minimum temperatures across the entire Northern Territory were below average by about 1 to 2 degrees. An area extending from the base of the Top End into the Victoria River had the coolest nights of the months with very much below average temperatures reaching up to 3 degrees below the norm. Minimum temperatures at Daly Waters dropped to 9.9 C on the 14th, their coolest in 43 years worth of records while Lajamanu dropped to 9.0 C on the same night, their coldest in 20 years worth of records.

The coldest night was at Alice Springs Airport with 4.0 °C on the 13th, followed by Arltunga with 4.8 °C on the 13th and then Alice Springs Airport with 4.9 °C on the 2nd.

The coolest nights on average were at Arltunga with 13.3 °C, followed by Alice Springs Airport with 13.5 °C and then Yulara Aero with 14.4 °C.

The warmest nights on average were at McCluer Island with 26.3 °C, followed by Cape Don with 25.9 °C and then Darwin Harbour with 25.8 °C.

The warmest night was at Timber Creek with 28.0 °C on the 28th, followed by Bradshaw with 27.9 °C on the 31st and then by Katherine Country Club with 27.9 °C on the 31st.

Some sites, including Daly Waters and Wollogorang, had their lowest October temperature on record. Walungurru their warmest October night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record with 27.7 on the 22nd. Lajamanu and Rabbit Flat both had their lowest October mean daily minimum temperature on record.

Wind

The strongest wind gust recorded in the Northern Territory during October 2012 was at Walungurru with 87 km/h on the 24th as gusty, northerly winds spread across the Alice Spring District ahead of a cool change.

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Extremes in October 2012
Hottest day	42.8 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 10th
Warmest days on average	39.2 °C at Bradshaw
Coolest days on average	30.5 °C at McCluer Island
Coldest day	20.4 °C at Arltunga on the 26th
Coldest night	4.0 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 13th
Coolest nights on average	13.3 °C at Arltunga
Warmest nights on average	26.3 °C at McCluer Island
Warmest night	28.0 °C at Timber Creek on the 28th
Warmest on average overall	31.6 °C at Bradshaw
Coolest on average overall	22.5 °C at Arltunga
Wettest overall	166.4 mm at Pirlangimpi
Wettest day	110.8 mm at Leanyer on the 28th
Highest wind gust	87 km/h at Walungurru on the 24th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record highest October daily rainfall
	Highest daily rainfall (mm)		Previous wettest (mm)		Years of record
Leanyer	110.8	on the 28th	63.4	on the 31st in 2010	23

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Record highest October temperature
	Highest temperature (°C)		Previous warmest		Years of record	Average for October
Alice Springs Airport	41.7	on the 24th	= 41.7	on the 18th in 2002	71	30.9

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Record highest October daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature (°C)		Previous warmest		Years of record	Average for October
Walungurru	27.7	on the 22nd	27.5	on the 21st in 2008	12	20.7

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Record lowest October temperature
	Lowest temperature (°C)		Previous coolest		Years of record	Average for October
Daly Waters	9.9	on the 14th	10.0	on the 2nd in 2002	43	21.2
Wollogorang	10.0	on the 14th	10.7	on the 6th in 2009	31	19.8
Lajamanu	9.0	on the 14th	10.0	on the 13th in 2003	20	20.5

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Record lowest October mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for October 2012 (°C)	Previous coolest for October		Years of record	Average for October
Lajamanu	18.1	18.3	in 2003	19	20.5
Rabbit Flat	15.9	16.1	in 2003	15	18.6

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for October 2012
	Maximum temperatures for October (°C)				Minimum temperatures for October (°C)				Rainfall for October (millimetres)
	Mean for October 2012	Diff from average	Highest for October 2012		Mean for October 2012	Diff from average	Lowest for October 2012		Total for October 2012	Average for October	Rank of October 2012	Fraction of October average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Aero	36.2	-0.6	37.6	23rd	23.1	+0.1	20.8	3rd	58.6	68.5	average	86%
Black Point	32.9	+0.2	34.7	2nd	24.5	-0.2	21.4	7th	3.2	12.4	average	26%
Bradshaw	39.2	+0.5	41.6	10th	24.1	-0.8	15.6	3rd	5.8	24.4	low	24%
Cape Don	33.7		35.2	13th	25.9		24.2	1st	5.4	26.5	average	20%
Central Arnhem Plateau	35.0		37.3	9th	21.6		16.3	2nd	27.0
Croker Island Airport	33.6		35.7	18th	24.5		22.0	7th	1.0
Darwin Airport	33.9	+0.7	36.6	13th	24.3	-0.6	22.6	1st	14.6	70.2	low	21%
Darwin Harbour	32.6		34.6	13th	25.8		22.3	28th
Delamere Weapons Range	37.8	+0.5	41.1	10th	23.4	-0.4	18.4	14th	0	33.9	lowest	0%
Douglas River	38.5	+1.0	40.9	27th	22.0	-0.4	15.3	3rd	7.0	37.4	average	19%
Dum In Mirrie	32.7	0.0	35.5	12th	25.2	-0.4	22.2	2nd	14.8	67.6	low	22%
Jabiru Airport	37.9	+0.3	39.5	11th	23.8	-0.1	19.8	2nd	26.8	41.2	average	65%
Katherine Country Club	38.1		40.1	29th	23.7		16.1	3rd	3.2
Mango Farm	37.6	+0.2	39.8	10th	21.5	-0.8	15.3	3rd	2.7	44.2	v low	6%
McCluer Island	30.5	-0.1	32.2	23rd	26.3	+0.2	23.8	7th	0	8.2	lowest	0%
Middle Point	36.7	-0.6	39.3	11th	21.7	-0.5	18.6	14th	43.8	50.1	average	87%
Noonamah	37.3		39.1	27th	22.4		19.8	14th	18.6
Oenpelli Airport	38.0		39.5	11th	22.6		17.9	2nd	4.8
Pirlangimpi	33.7	+0.3	36.4	14th	23.2	+0.2	20.7	1st	166.4	81.8	high	203%
Point Fawcett	32.6	-0.3	33.7	14th	22.5	-1.4	19.6	3rd	76.2	67.4	average	113%
Port Keats Aero	34.0	-0.4	37.3	11th	23.1	-0.9	17.3	15th	58.0	38.4	high	151%
Tindal RAAF	38.0	+0.5	39.9	9th	23.2	-0.9	15.4	3rd	0.2	35.8	low	1%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Cape Wessel	32.7		33.8	15th	25.1		23.1	9th	5.8	13.5	average	43%
Gove Airport	32.2	+0.5	35.5	28th	21.5	-0.1	17.7	6th	7.8	11.4	high	68%
Groote Eylandt Airport	33.4	-0.8	36.8	10th	20.5	-0.6	15.0	2nd	26.8	27.9	average	96%
Maningrida Aero	33.5		35.9	12th	22.8		16.9	2nd	0.6	15.1	average	4%
Milingimbi	32.9		34.4	13th	23.6		19.9	2nd	0.6	10.8	average	6%
Ngayawili	32.9	+0.3	34.6	24th	22.4	-0.3	20.0	6th	0	8.4	lowest	0%
North East Island	31.5		33.2	28th	24.5		22.5	3rd	2.4	6.0	high	40%
Warruwi	33.0	+0.5	34.1	30th	25.5	+0.2	23.7	19th	0	11.9	lowest	0%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola	36.7	+0.1	40.0	9th	20.5	-1.1	13.7	14th	0	15.7	lowest	0%
Bulman	37.3	-1.1	39.8	10th	20.5	-1.2	15.3	3rd	28.4	22.6	high	126%
Daly Waters	37.8	+0.6	40.9	10th	18.4	-2.8	9.9	14th	21.2	23.3	average	91%
McArthur River Mine	37.5	-0.3	41.0	10th	21.0	-0.1	11.7	14th	0	20.7	lowest	0%
Ngukurr	37.6		41.0	9th	22.3		16.5	14th	0.2
Wollogorang	37.1	+0.5	40.5	9th	18.4	-1.4	10.0	14th	15.8	26.5	average	60%
Victoria (district 14F)
Lajamanu			42.2	10th	18.1	-2.4	9.0	14th	0	20.7	lowest	0%
Timber Creek	39.0	+0.7	41.7	30th	23.1	-0.9	15.6	4th	0.4	28.1	v low	1%
Victoria River Downs	38.2	+0.4	41.5	30th	20.2	-2.2	11.3	16th	0	19.5	lowest	0%
Wave Hill			40.5	10th	20.1	-1.5	11.0	14th	0	29.3	lowest	0%
Barkly (district 15A)
Brunette Downs	36.7	0.0	41.6	23rd	19.1	-1.6	11.5	13th	0	15.5	lowest	0%
Elliott	36.9	-1.1	41.4	10th	19.5	-1.4	12.7	15th	0	22.8	lowest	0%
Tennant Creek Airport	35.1	+0.4	40.3	10th	20.9	-0.8	14.2	12th	3.0	20.5	low	15%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport	33.3	+2.4	41.7	24th	13.5	-1.3	4.0	13th	0.6	21.4	low	3%
Arltunga	31.6	+0.8	39.6	24th	13.3	-1.4	4.8	13th	4.2	22.4	low	19%
Curtin Springs	33.6	+2.0	42.0	23rd	14.9	+0.7	6.0	3rd	3.0	19.0	average	16%
Jervois	33.6	+0.4	41.6	24th	15.8	+0.2	8.4	13th	0.2	15.4	low	1%
Kulgera	31.9	+1.8	40.2	23rd	15.1	+0.2	5.3	2nd	0	22.1	lowest	0%
Rabbit Flat	37.2	+0.2	42.8	10th	15.9	-2.7	7.8	3rd	28.6	22.6	average	127%
Territory Grape Farm	33.9	+0.9	39.5	23rd	15.2	-0.4	6.6	13th	6.0	16.5	average	36%
Walungurru	36.1	+0.5	42.2	23rd	20.3	-0.4	13.8	11th	1.4	19.8	average	7%
Yulara Aero	33.9	+2.0	41.3	23rd	14.4	-0.4	6.3	3rd	0.4	23.3	v low	2%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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