Wednesday, 6 January 2016 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in December 2015: Monsoon breaks dry spell, delivers record rainfall

After a dry start to the 2015-16 wet season, the arrival of the monsoon in late December produced widespread rainfall, Territory-wide. It was the wettest December on record for the Northern Territory. Many sites had their highest December daily and monthly rainfall on record, and some sites had their highest daily rainfall for any month. As a result, daytime temperatures were cooler than usual, while nighttime temperatures were warmer.

• Monsoon onset at Darwin was approximately 21 December - close to date of typical onset
• Wettest December on record
• Above average rainfall through nearly entire Territory
• Above average mean daily minimum temperatures for most parts
• Average to below average daily maximum and mean temperatures

The dry 'build up' period which commenced in October, continued for much of the Territory during early December. Some locations in the Top End received significant daily falls due to seasonal thunderstorm activity, but generally rainfall was below average. With the arrival of an active monsoon trough, widespread rainfall quickly raised the monthly totals to average and above; nearly twice the normal area-wide rainfall was recorded across the NT. A low embedded in the monsoon trough generated very large rainfall totals as it is moved over parts of the Top End. The Daly River region in the northwestern Top End experienced some of the heaviest falls with over 500 mm in 72 hours recorded at several locations, including Mango Farm. Bradshaw registered 284 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on 26 December, whilst there were unofficial observations at Gourley (southeast of Daly River township) of 339 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on 25 December and 618 mm in the 48 hours to 9 am on 26 December. Major flooding occurred on the Daly River. The low also moved over parts of the eastern NT, generating heavy rainfall and localised flooding to regions south of the Top End. Nearly all locations in the Territory received above-average rainfall during the month, with many sites receiving record daily and monthly totals. A significant proportion of the northern half of the Territory experienced record monthly rainfall, particularly over the northwestern NT and the region near the base of the Top End. Many sites had their highest total December rainfall on record and highest December daily rainfall on record. Some sites had their highest daily rainfall for any month.

The very warm temperatures of October and November continued during the first half of December. With the widespread rainfall in the second half of the month, daytime temperatures decreased significantly, leading to average to below average maximum temperatures for December, apart from a small region in the far south of the Northern Territory which recorded above-average maximum temperatures. Some sites experienced record low maximum temperatures during the month. Minimum temperatures were generally above average territory-wide; the southern half of the NT had minimum temperatures well above average.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top