Monday, 1 February 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in January 2021: wet and warm in the north

Overall, rainfall in the Northern Territory during January was marginally below average. However, there was significant variation across the NT with parts of the north observing above average rainfall, while much of the NT, south of the Top End, had less than 60% of their long-term average. Much of the southern NT also experienced below average daytime and night-time temperatures during the month, while the north had near average daytime and very much above average night-time temperatures.

Monsoonal rains in the north

• An active monsoon in the second half of January led to significant rainfall across much of the Top End, with the northeast and coastal northwest observing above average rainfall.
• Territory-wide, rainfall in January was 20% below the long-term average, with most of the NT south of the Top End observing average to below average totals.
• Monsoonal rain and tropical low activity contributed to the highest January daily rainfall on record at a couple of sites in the northern NT.

Warm nights in the north

• Overall, temperatures in the Northern Territory were close to the long-term average in January.
• Territory wide, the mean maximum temperature was 0.02 ° below long-term average, while the mean minimum temperature was 0.66 °C above average.
• Daytime temperatures were near to or marginally above average in the northern half, and average to below average in the south; Dum In Mirrie in the northwest Top End had its highest January mean daily maximum temperature on record.
• Night-time temperatures were above average for almost all of the northern NT, along with much of the eastern half – the south-western quadrant of the Territory had average to below average mean minimum temperatures.
• A couple of sites in the south had their lowest January temperature on record, while Bradshaw in the Gregory District had its highest January mean daily minimum temperature on record and Darwin Airport had its equal warmest January night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

Darwin Airport

• Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 616.8 mm, which is 143% of the long-term average of 431.4 mm.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 31.8 °C, equal to the long-term average.
• The warmest day was 34.7 °C on the 6th, and the coolest day was on the 28th when the temperature reached 27.1 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.1 °C, which is 0.2 °C above the long-term average of 24.9 °C.
• The coldest morning was 23.0 °C on the 30th, and the warmest morning was on the 4th when the minimum temperature was 29.3 °C, equal to its highest January overnight minimum temperature on record.

Alice Springs Airport

• Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 11.4 mm, which is 28% of the long-term average of 40.2 mm.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 35.5 °C, which is 1.0 °C below the long-term average of 36.5 °C.
• The warmest day was 41.0 °C on the 14th, and the coolest day was on the 5th when the temperature reached 24.7 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 21.3 °C, which is 0.3 °C below the long-term average of 21.6 °C.
• The coldest morning was 12.2 °C on the 18th, and the warmest morning was on the 24th, when the minimum temperature was 28.8 °C.

Severe weather

• 4 January: squall-line thunderstorms affected the Arnhem and Katherine districts, generating heavy rainfall at Sleisbeck, NE of Katherine: 94.5 mm was recorded in 1 hour, a rainfall rate which has an historical Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of less than 1% (roughly equivalent to a 1-in-100 year event).
• 6 January: heavy rainfall from a Mesoscale Convective Complex (MCC), associated with widespread thunderstorms, affected parts of the Daly District in the NW Top End: Daly River Police Station recorded 84.5 mm in one hour with an AEP of less than 5%.
• 14 January: heavy rainfall affected Darwin and nearby sites with a one hour rainfall observation of 103.5 mm at Marrara, a rainfall rate which has an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of less than 1% (roughly equivalent to a 1-in-100 year event).
• 21 January: heavy rainfall associated with a tropical low generated 125 mm in 2 hours and 131 mm in 3 hours at Upper Wickham River in the Gregory District, each with rainfall rates that have an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of less than 1% (roughly equivalent to a 1-in-100 year event).
• 22 January: an isolated thunderstorm moved over Tennant Creek Airport, producing a fall of 51.6 mm in an hour; this rainfall rate has an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of less than 10% (roughly equivalent to a 1-in-10 year event).
• 24 January: a slow-moving thunderstorm produced 66.8 mm of rain in one hour at Yeuralba Ridge, just east of Katherine; such a rainfall rate has an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of less than 10% (roughly equivalent to a 1-in-10 year event).

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top