Friday, 1 November 2019 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in October 2019: Very warm and dry

Daytime temperatures were above average throughout virtually all of the Northern Territory in October. Overnight temperatures were cooler than average across the Top End, but mostly above average further south. Rainfall was below average across most of the NT during the month.

Second-highest mean maximum temperature on record

• The area-averaged mean maximum temperature across the Territory in October was 2.30 °C above the long-term average. This is the highest since 1988 and the second-highest since records commenced in 1910
• Many sites across the NT had their highest October temperature and/or highest October mean daily maximum temperature on record. For several sites in the Top End, including Middle Point and Tindal, the highest daily maximums for October were also annual highest temperatures on record
• Overnight (minimum) temperatures were up to 4 °C above average in the southern NT but generally less than average in the northern half and 1-3 °C below average across the eastern Top End. Territory-wide, the mean minimum temperature was 1.04 °C above the long-term average
• Across the NT, the mean (maximum and minimum combined) temperature was 1.67 °C above the long-term average and eighth-highest on record
• Several sites in the Top End had either their lowest October temperature or lowest October mean daily minimum temperature on record
• The year-to-date mean maximum temperature is currently the second-highest on record, 1.75 °C above the long-term average. The year-to-date mean minimum temperature is 0.95 °C above average and the mean temperature is tracking at 1.35 °C above average (fourth-highest on record)

Very dry October

• Most of the Northern Territory had less than 40% of average rainfall. Apart from some relatively small regions across the central NT and Top End, rainfall was below average throughout
• Overall, rainfall was 69% below the long-term average
• Darwin Hospital had its lowest total October rainfall on record
• For the year to date, rainfall across the Northern Territory was 45% below the long-term average, the fifth-lowest on record and lowest since 1970

Darwin Airport

• Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 20.2 mm, which is 29% of the long-term average of 69.5 mm
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 34.3 °C, which is 1.0 °C above the long-term average of 33.3 °C. The warmest day was 38.2 °C on the 21st, and the coolest day was on the 27th when the temperature reached 31.2 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 24.2 °C, which is 0.7 °C below the long-term average of 24.9 °C. The coldest morning was 21.8 °C on the 14th, and the warmest morning was on the 26th when the minimum temperature was 26.8 °C

Alice Springs Airport

• Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 0.0 mm, compared to the long-term average of 20.0 mm
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 34.6 °C, which is 3.5 °C above the long-term average of 31.1 °C. The warmest day was 40.7 °C on the 15th, and the coolest day was on the 17th when the temperature reached 24.7 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 16.5 °C, which is 1.7 °C below the long-term average of 14.8 °C. The coldest morning was 8.7 °C on the 10th, and the warmest morning was on the 12th when the minimum temperature was 23.7 °C

Severe thunderstorm

• A severe gust of 91 km/h was recorded from a thunderstorm at Walungurru on 19 October

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

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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top