TMonday, 1 March 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in February 2021: wet in the north and southwest; cool days, warm nights

Rainfall across the Northern Territory in February was above the long-term average, with much of the north and parts of the south-west recording above average totals during the month. Daytime temperatures were mostly below the long-term average with night-time temperatures generally above average.

Persistent rainfall in the north

• The month started with an active monsoon across the Top End, and follow-up tropical troughs generated widespread persistent rainfall across much of the northern half of the NT.
• North of about Elliott, rainfall was mostly above the long-term February average; the far south-west of the Territory also observed above average rain while elsewhere, rainfall was close to average.
• Territory-wide, rainfall was 22% above the long-term average.
• Two sites in the Carpentaria District, Daly Waters and Nathan River, had their highest February daily rainfall on record, with Nathan River also having its highest total February rainfall for at least 20 years.
• Rainfall for the wet season to-date (October 2020–February 2021) across the NT was 32% above the long-term average, the highest since 2016-17.

Mostly cool days with generally warm nights

• Daytime temperatures were average to below average across all the NT, apart from a small area in the south-east; the regular rainfall and associated cloud cover was likely the main factor.
• Across the NT, the mean maximum temperature was 0.36 °C below the long-term average; Lajamanu in the central west had its coldest February day (lowest maximum temperature) on record on the 8th.
• Apart from parts of the south-western NT, night-time temperatures were above average during February.
• Averaged across the Territory, the mean minimum temperature was 0.11 °C above the long-term average.
• For the wet season to date (October–February), the area-averaged mean maximum temperature is 0.30 °C above average and the mean minimum temperature is 1.14 °C above the long-term average and fifth-highest on record.

Darwin Airport

• Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 305.0 mm, which is 83% of the long-term average of 369.2 mm.
• Rainfall for the wet season to date at Darwin Airport is 1558.8 mm, which is above the long-term average of 1263.1 mm.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 31.4 °C, which is 0.1 °C below the long-term average of 31.5 °C.
• The warmest day was 33.0 °C on the 18th, and the coolest day was on the 5th when the temperature reached 29.2 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.0 °C, which is 0.2 °C above the long-term average of 24.8 °C.
• The coldest morning was 21.6 °C on the 5th, and the warmest morning was on the 12th when the minimum temperature was 27.3 °C.

Alice Springs Airport

• Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 22.2 mm, which is 54% of the long-term average of 41.2 mm.
• Rainfall for the wet season to date at Alice Springs Airport is 179.0 mm, which is below the long-term average of 213.4 mm.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 35.7 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 35.2 °C.
• The warmest day was 40.6 °C on the 21st, and the coolest day was on the 13th when the temperature reached 24.7 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 21.0 °C, which is 0.2 °C above the long-term average of 20.8 °C.
• The coldest morning was 12.4 °C on the 25th, and the warmest morning was on the 11th, when the minimum temperature was 28.2 °C.
• Summer rainfall at Alice Springs Airport was 117.3 mm, which is 98% of the long-term average of 120.3 mm
• For the summer months, mean maximum temperature at Alice Springs Airport was 34.7 °C, which is 1.0 °C below average, with the warmest temperature of 43.5 °C on 5 December; the mean minimum temperature was 21.1 °C, which is 0.2 °C above average, with the coolest temperature of 12.2 °C on 18 January.

Severe weather

• 4 February: widespread thunderstorm activity across the north-western Top End generated a 100 km/h gust at Darwin Harbour.
• 5 February: heavy rainfall from slow-moving thunderstorms near Katherine produced 60.5 mm in 30 minutes and 79.0 mm rain in 1 hour at Seventeen Mile Creek; both rainfall rates have an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of between 2 and 5%.
• 13 February: thunderstorms in the southern NT generated heavy rainfall including a 30-minute fall of 32.0 mm and a 1-hour fall of 38.0 mm at Bond Springs; both rainfall rates have an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of between 5 and 10%.
• 15 February: thunderstorms in the Arnhem region generated heavy rainfall including a 1-hour fall of 71.2 mm at Bulman, a rainfall rate with an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of less than 10%.
• 17 February: heavy rainfall from slow-moving thunderstorms over the northwest Top End generated heavy rainfall at Howard River with a 1-hour rainfall recording of 91.5 mm, a rainfall rate with an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of between 2 and 5%.
• 23 February: widespread thunderstorm activity in the Katherine region generated heavy rainfall at Maud Creek, including a daily total of 171 mm and a 30-minute observation of 69.0 mm, which equates to a rainfall rate with an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of less than 1% (roughly equivalent to a 1-in-100 year event).
• 24 February: widespread thunderstorm activity in the northwest Top End generated heavy rainfall at Adelaide River, including a a 1-hour observation of 89.5 mm, a rainfall rate with an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of between 1 and 2%. Cullen River in the Daly district also had a severe rainfall event with a 30-minute observation of 58.0 mm, a rainfall rate with an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of between 2 and 5%.

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