Friday, 1 November 2013 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC22R0
Northern Territory in October 2013: Top End thunderstomrs and heat in the Centre
- Records:
- 4 new daily maximum temperature records
- Alice Springs Airport sees Hottest October Day on record
- 2 daily rainfall records set and 3 monthly total rainfall records set
- Geriatric Park sees triple their October average rainfall
- Temperatures (NT Average):
- Mean - 1.22 °C above average and highest in five years
- Maximum (daytime) - 8th highest on record
- Minimum (overnight) - 0.69 °C above average and highest in five years
- Rainfall:
- Record setting rainfall event over northwest Top End on the 23rd
- Extremes:
- Hottest day was 39.7 °C at Timber Creek on the 20th
- Coldest night was -1.6 °C at Arltunga on the 4th
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Thunderstorms return to the western Top End
October marks the first month of the wet season and is often characterized by occasional isolated afternoon thunderstorms. This month these storms occurred mostly over the western Top End and were associated with heavy rainfall and strong winds. Places like Port Keats Aero and Geriatric Park near Dundee Beach saw record high rainfall, this month, as some storms moved over these locations. Strong, and at times damaging winds were were measured with a few storms early in the month. On the 3rd a series of thunder storms moved over the western Top End as Central Arnhem Plateau measured a wind gust of 89 km/h, the strongest recorded in the NT this month. There were a series of reports of damage from these winds on the 3rd.
Alice Springs Hot Days
Alice Springs Airport is on track to record its hottest calendar year on record, and October was no exception to the string of really hot months. The mean daily maximum temperature for October at Alice Springs was 32.6 °C, 1.7 °C above normal. Alice Springs Airport exceeded 40 °C on three days this month, this is another first for Alice Springs (2002 was the first October to break 40 °C on twice in the same month). Alice Springs Airport also set a new record for highest October daily maximum temperature with 42.6 °C on the 10th, the previous record 41.7 °C set on 24 October last year.
Rainfall
There were a few rainfall events over the western Top End, this month, bringing high rainfall totals and breaking some rainfall records at some locations. The wettest single day was at Geriatric Park with 127.2 mm on the 28th (their highest October daily rainfall on record), followed by Darwin Botanic Gardens with 67.8 mm on the 24th, followed by Stokes Hill with 63.0 mm on the 24th. When summed over the whole month, the wettest overall was Geriatric Park with 273.0 mm, followed by Darwin Bowls Club with 174.4 mm, followed by Shoal Bay with 161.4 mm. Darwin Airport finished the month with 98.2 mm, which is 27.6 mm above the long-term average.
When averaged across the NT the mean rainfall was 7.11 mm. This is 11.72 mm (62.2%) below the long term average. The Top End saw a strong rainfall gradient from west to east, this month. With places in the west, such as Port Keats Aero setting a new October total rainfall record while Gove Airport in the eastern Top End did not receive any rain this month. The Alice Springs District also saw little-to-no rainfall this month. Alice Springs Airport ended the month with 0.0 mm, the driest October since 2009.
Temperature
When averaged across the Northern Territory the monthly mean temperature (average of daily maximum and daily minimum) was 28.55 °C, which is 1.22 °C above normal for October and the hottest since 2008. High maximum temperatures were the strongest contributor to the mean temperature anomaly this month. A lack of cloud cover and persistent high pressure are two factors that contributed to the high temperatures.
The warmest on average was Bradshaw with 32.7 °C, followed by Katherine Country Club with 32.1 °C, and then Timber Creek with 32.0 °C. The coolest on average was Arltunga with 22.4 °C, followed by Kulgera with 22.8 °C, and then Alice Springs Airport with 23.2 °C.
Maximum temperature
The mean daily maximum temperatures were above average for all of the NT with most of the Barkley and Arnhem Land seeing close to record maximum temperatures this month. When averaged across the Territory, the average mean daily maximum temperature was 36.26 °C, which is the 8th highest on record and 1.73 °C above average
Early in the month saw a spell of hot weather in the Alice Springs District. The hottest single day in the Territory was at Rabbit Flat with 43.3 °C on the 10th, followed by Lajamanu with 42.6 °C on the 9th, and Alice Springs Airport also with 42.6 °C on the 10th, which is their highest October temperature on record at Alice Springs. Bradshaw and Timber Creek both had 42.5 °C on the 9th.
The warmest days on average were at Bradshaw with 40.0 °C, followed by Victoria River Downs with 39.9 °C, followed by Timber Creek with 39.8 °C. The coolest days on average were at McCluer Island with 30.8 °C, followed by Kulgera with 31.3 °C, and then Arltunga with 32.0 °C. Lajamanu was among the sites had their highest October mean daily maximum temperature on record.
The lowest daily maximum temperature was at Kulgera with 23.3 °C on the 14th, followed by Arltunga with 23.6 °C on the 14th, and then Kulgera again with 23.8 °C on the 13th, and Alice Springs Airport also with 23.8 °C on the 23rd.
Minimum temperature
Minimum temperatures were generally above average across the northern half of the NT while near average to below average in the Alice Springs District. When averaged across the NT the mean daily maximum temperature for October was 28.8 °C, highest since 2008 and 0.69 C above average. The warmest night was at Wave Hill with 30.2 °C on the 10th, followed by Rabbit Flat with 28.9 °C on the 11th, followed by Delamere Weapons Range with 28.6 °C on the 10th. This was a new record for the highest daily minimum temperature for October at Wave Hill and Delamere.
The warmest nights on average were at McCluer Island with 26.6 °C, followed by Cape Don with 26.4 °C, followed by Darwin Harbour with 26.1 °C. There were no new low minimum temperature records set for October this year. The coldest night in the NT was at Arltunga with 4.7 °C on the 5th, and again at Arltunga with 5.4 °C on the 16th, followed by Alice Springs Airport with 6.0 °C on the 4th. The coolest nights on average were at Arltunga with 13.1 °C, followed by Alice Springs Airport with 13.9 °C, and then Curtin Springs and Kulgera both with 14.8 °C.Wind
There were several strong wind events in the Northern Territory, this month. Most were associated with thunderstorm activity across the western Top End. The strongest wind gust was at Central Arnhem Plateau with 89 km/h on the 3rd, followed by Lajamanu with 78 km/h on the 17th, followed by Douglas River with 76 km/h on the 19th, and then Douglas River which recorded a wind gust of 76 km/h on the 19th, 20th and 27th.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
Extremes in October 2013 | |
---|---|
Hottest day |
43.3 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 10th |
Warmest days on average |
40.0 °C at Bradshaw |
Coolest days on average |
30.8 °C at McCluer Island |
Coldest day |
23.3 °C at Kulgera on the 14th |
Coldest night |
4.7 °C at Arltunga on the 5th |
Coolest nights on average |
13.1 °C at Arltunga |
Warmest nights on average |
26.6 °C at McCluer Island |
Warmest night |
30.2 °C at Wave Hill on the 10th |
Warmest on average overall |
32.7 °C at Bradshaw |
Coolest on average overall |
22.4 °C at Arltunga |
Wettest overall |
273.0 mm at Geriatric Park |
Wettest day |
127.2 mm at Geriatric Park on the 28th |
Highest wind gust |
89 km/h at Central Arnhem Plateau on the 3rd |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Maps | |||
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Observed | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
Total rainfall |
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Mean daily maximum temperatures |
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Mean daily minimum temperatures |
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Record highest October daily rainfall | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highest daily rainfall in October 2013 (mm) |
Previous wettest for October |
Years of record |
||||
Stokes Hill | 63.0 | on the 24th | 53.8 | on the 15th in 2008 | 24 | |
Geriatric Park | 127.2 | on the 28th | 93.2 | on the 22nd in 1998 | 17 | |
Ngayawili | 22.8 | on the 15th | 18.0 | on the 8th in 2003 | 15 |
Record highest total October rainfall | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total rainfall for October 2013 (mm) |
Previous wettest for October |
Years of record |
Average for October |
||
Geriatric Park | 273.0 | 194.2 | in 1999 | 17 | 85.9 |
Port Keats Aero | 143.2 | 132.6 | in 2010 | 14 | 45.9 |
Highest total October rainfall for at least 10 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total rainfall for October 2013 (mm) |
Most recent October at least this wet |
Years since wetter |
Average for October |
||
Darwin Botanic Gardens | 153.4 | 180.1 | in 1992* | 20 | 66.1 |
Stokes Hill | 158.4 | 262.9 | in 1978* | 16 | 64.5 |
Tipperary | 64.5 | 85.8 | in 2000* | 10 | 45.0 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.
Record highest October temperature | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highest temperature in October 2013 (°C) |
Previous warmest for October |
Years of record |
Average for October |
|||
Alice Springs Airport | 42.6 | on the 10th | 41.7 | on the 24th in 2012 | 72 | 30.9 |
Mango Farm | 41.5 | on the 9th | = 41.5 | on the 4th in 2003 | 33 | 37.4 |
Pirlangimpi | 37.7 | on the 10th | = 37.7 | on the 22nd in 2008 | 30 | 33.4 |
Point Fawcett | 36.3 | on the 26th | = 36.3 | on the 17th in 2009 | 16 | 32.9 |
Record highest October mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean daily maximum temperature for October 2013 (°C) |
Previous warmest for October |
Years of record |
Average for October |
||
Pirlangimpi | 35.0 | 34.9 | in 2008 | 29 | 33.4 |
Lajamanu | 39.4 | 39.2 | in 2002 | 20 | 37.1 |
Borroloola | 38.3 | = 38.3 | in 2002 | 19 | 36.6 |
Highest October mean daily maximum temperature for at least 10 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean daily maximum temperature for October 2013 (°C) |
Most recent October at least this warm |
Years since warmer |
Average for October |
||
Victoria River Downs | 39.9 | 40.4 | in 1971 | 42 | 37.8 |
Brunette Downs | 39.0 | 39.4 | in 1988 | 25 | 36.7 |
Centre Island | 34.3 | 34.4 | in 1988* | 24 | 33.0 |
Tindal RAAF | 39.3 | 39.4 | in 1988* | 22 | 37.5 |
Daly Waters | 39.6 | 40.0 | in 2002 | 11 | 37.2 |
Delamere Weapons Range | 39.0 | 39.4 | in 2002 | 11 | 37.3 |
Jabiru Airport | 38.9 | 39.1 | in 2002 | 11 | 37.6 |
Mango Farm | 38.8 | 39.0 | in 2002 | 11 | 37.4 |
McArthur River Mine | 39.4 | 39.6 | in 2002 | 11 | 37.8 |
Wollogorang | 38.4 | 38.8 | in 2002 | 11 | 36.6 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.
Record highest October daily minimum temperature | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highest daily minimum temperature in October 2013 (°C) |
Previous warmest for October |
Years of record |
Average for October |
|||
Wave Hill | 30.2 | on the 10th | 30.0 | on the 13th in 1998 | 40 | 21.6 |
Delamere Weapons Range | 28.6 | on the 10th | 28.0 | on the 30th in 2005 | 17 | 23.8 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Summary statistics for October 2013 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum temperatures for October (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for October (°C) |
Rainfall for October (millimetres) |
||||||||||
Mean for October 2013 |
Diff from average |
Highest for October 2013 |
Mean for October 2013 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for October 2013 |
Total for October 2013 |
Average for October |
Rank of October 2013 |
Fraction of October average |
|||
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
Batchelor Aero | 36.6 | -0.1 | 38.9 | 10th | 23.2 | +0.2 | 21.1 | 2nd | 64.0 | 68.3 | average | 94% |
Black Point | 33.2 | +0.5 | 35.1 | 18th | 24.6 | 0.0 | 22.1 | 6th | 7.8 | 12.3 | average | 63% |
Bradshaw | 40.0 | +1.3 | 42.5 | 9th | 25.5 | +0.7 | 19.5 | 5th | 48.2 | 25.9 | high | 186% |
Cape Don | 34.5 | 36.6 | 30th | 26.4 | 23.3 | 15th | 23.6 | 26.4 | average | 89% | ||
Central Arnhem Plateau | 37.4 | 39.4 | 26th | 22.7 | 18.0 | 1st | 0.4 | 35.3 | low | 1% | ||
Croker Island Airport | 34.0 | 36.4 | 5th | 24.9 | 23.2 | 5th | 0.2 | |||||
Darwin Airport | 34.0 | +0.8 | 36.6 | 10th | 24.7 | -0.2 | 20.5 | 26th | 98.2 | 70.6 | high | 139% |
Darwin NTC | 32.7 | 35.3 | 10th | 26.1 | 20.6 | 4th | ||||||
Delamere Weapons Range | 39.0 | +1.7 | 41.3 | 9th | 24.9 | +1.1 | 18.2 | 5th | 18.2 | 33.0 | average | 55% |
Douglas River | 39.0 | +1.5 | 41.2 | 9th | 22.8 | +0.5 | 17.3 | 5th | 57.0 | 37.8 | high | 151% |
Dum In Mirrie | 32.9 | +0.2 | 35.1 | 16th | 25.0 | -0.6 | 21.9 | 19th | 110.4 | 70.0 | average | 158% |
Gunn Point | 33.6 | 37.0 | 10th | 23.2 | 20.9 | 2nd | 80.2 | |||||
Jabiru Airport | 38.9 | +1.3 | 40.5 | 19th | 24.4 | +0.5 | 22.3 | 2nd | 1.8 | 40.2 | low | 4% |
Katherine Country Club | 39.3 | 41.5 | 9th | 24.9 | 18.9 | 5th | 14.4 | |||||
Mango Farm | 38.8 | +1.4 | 41.5 | 9th | 22.0 | -0.2 | 17.5 | 5th | 41.0 | 44.2 | average | 93% |
McCluer Island | 30.8 | +0.2 | 32.3 | 16th | 26.6 | +0.5 | 24.7 | 5th | 0 | 7.7 | lowest | 0% |
Middle Point | 38.1 | +0.9 | 40.3 | 9th | 22.2 | +0.1 | 19.5 | 11th | 41.2 | 49.4 | average | 83% |
Murganella Airstrip | 34.5 | 37.8 | 9th | 22.3 | 18.1 | 5th | 14.0 | |||||
Noonamah (Mkt) | 36.6 | 38.6 | 10th | 23.6 | 20.9 | 2nd | 85.2 | |||||
Oenpelli Airport | 38.2 | 39.9 | 25th | 22.7 | 19.8 | 1st | 55.4 | |||||
Pirlangimpi | 35.0 | +1.6 | 37.7 | 10th | 23.5 | +0.5 | 21.8 | 2nd | 129.6 | 83.0 | average | 156% |
Point Fawcett | 33.3 | +0.4 | 36.3 | 26th | 23.3 | -0.5 | 20.4 | 2nd | 86.2 | 68.5 | average | 126% |
Point Stuart | 34.9 | 36.2 | 10th | 24.6 | 22.6 | 2nd | 0.8 | 49.3 | low | 2% | ||
Port Keats Aero | 34.5 | +0.1 | 36.9 | 10th | 24.5 | +0.5 | 22.1 | 5th | 143.2 | 45.9 | highest | 312% |
Tindal RAAF | 39.3 | +1.8 | 41.1 | 26th | 24.3 | +0.2 | 18.4 | 5th | 5.6 | 34.9 | average | 16% |
Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
Cape Wessel | 33.1 | 34.1 | 19th | 25.4 | 23.2 | 3rd | 2.2 | 13.0 | average | 17% | ||
Gove Airport | 32.6 | +0.9 | 34.8 | 25th | 21.2 | -0.4 | 17.5 | 5th | 0 | 11.1 | lowest | 0% |
Groote Eylandt Airport | 34.3 | +0.1 | 36.3 | 25th | 21.2 | +0.1 | 14.2 | 5th | 25.2 | 27.7 | average | 91% |
Maningrida Aero | 33.5 | +0.4 | 36.0 | 4th | 23.3 | +0.3 | 20.6 | 5th | 11.0 | 14.7 | average | 75% |
Milingimbi | 33.1 | +0.3 | 36.0 | 25th | 23.9 | +0.3 | 19.9 | 5th | 13.0 | 11.0 | average | 118% |
Ngayawili | 33.3 | +0.7 | 35.4 | 15th | 22.2 | -0.5 | 18.7 | 5th | 23.0 | 9.4 | high | 245% |
North East Island | 32.6 | 33.6 | 10th | 24.8 | 21.6 | 27th | 30.0 | 7.0 | high | 429% | ||
Warruwi | 32.9 | +0.4 | 36.0 | 9th | 25.8 | +0.5 | 23.6 | 5th | 46.4 | 12.2 | v high | 380% |
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
Borroloola | 38.3 | +1.7 | 41.3 | 25th | 21.7 | +0.2 | 15.6 | 5th | 0.8 | 14.9 | average | 5% |
Centre Island | 34.3 | +1.3 | 37.0 | 8th | 25.6 | +0.7 | 23.1 | 5th | 0 | 8.3 | lowest | 0% |
Daly Waters | 39.6 | +2.4 | 41.4 | 9th | 21.6 | +0.5 | 12.8 | 4th | 3.4 | 22.9 | average | 15% |
McArthur River Mine | 39.4 | +1.6 | 41.8 | 8th | 23.4 | +2.3 | 15.9 | 5th | 4.4 | 20.3 | average | 22% |
Ngukurr | 39.4 | 41.3 | 8th | 22.8 | 16.5 | 5th | 2.4 | |||||
Wollogorang | 38.4 | +1.8 | 41.7 | 9th | 21.3 | +1.5 | 13.2 | 5th | 4.2 | 25.9 | average | 16% |
Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
Lajamanu | 39.4 | +2.3 | 42.6 | 9th | 21.8 | +1.4 | 12.1 | 5th | 0 | 20.3 | lowest | 0% |
Timber Creek | 39.8 | +1.5 | 42.5 | 9th | 24.3 | +0.3 | 14.6 | 6th | 55.8 | 29.0 | high | 192% |
Victoria River Downs | 39.9 | +2.1 | 42.4 | 22nd | 23.7 | +1.4 | 14.5 | 6th | 6.8 | 19.4 | average | 35% |
Wave Hill | 39.4 | +1.8 | 42.0 | 9th | 23.6 | +2.0 | 18.6 | 17th | 14.8 | 28.9 | average | 51% |
Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
Brunette Downs | 39.0 | +2.3 | 41.9 | 13th | 22.8 | +2.2 | 15.1 | 8th | 0.4 | 15.4 | average | 3% |
Tennant Creek Airport | 36.7 | +2.0 | 40.9 | 10th | 22.8 | +1.1 | 17.9 | 4th | 9.0 | 20.3 | average | 44% |
Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
Alice Springs Airport | 32.6 | +1.7 | 42.6 | 10th | 13.9 | -0.9 | 6.0 | 4th | 0 | 21.1 | lowest | 0% |
Arltunga | 32.0 | +1.1 | 40.2 | 21st | 13.1 | -1.5 | 4.7 | 5th | 0 | 22.1 | lowest | 0% |
Curtin Springs | 33.9 | +2.3 | 42.0 | 20th | 14.8 | +0.5 | 9.0 | 15th | 1.0 | 18.8 | average | 5% |
Kulgera | 31.3 | +1.1 | 40.5 | 20th | 14.8 | -0.1 | 9.1 | 4th | 0.4 | 21.6 | low | 2% |
Rabbit Flat | 38.9 | +1.9 | 43.3 | 10th | 18.8 | +0.3 | 8.6 | 5th | 1.0 | 21.4 | low | 5% |
Territory Grape Farm | 35.1 | +2.0 | 40.7 | 10th | 16.0 | +0.4 | 8.2 | 4th | 0 | 15.9 | lowest | 0% |
Walungurru | 36.9 | +1.2 | 41.8 | 20th | 21.1 | +0.4 | 17.7 | 14th | 6.2 | 18.8 | average | 33% |
Yulara Aero | 34.0 | +2.0 | 41.4 | 9th | 14.9 | +0.1 | 9.1 | 5th | 0 | 22.3 | lowest | 0% |
Extremes Maps 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 Friday 1 November 2013. 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
all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site.
They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, 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.
The ACORN-SAT dataset is being used for temperature area averages from December 2012 onwards. The major change from earlier datasets is that the ACORN-SAT dataset commences in 1910, rather than 1950, and hence rankings are calculated using a larger set of years.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au