Thursday, 1 April 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0
Northern Territory in March 2021: wet in the south
Much of the southern half of the Northern Territory had well above average rainfall during March. In the north, rainfall was generally close to the long-term average. Temperatures were mostly close to average across the NT, although daytime temperatures were below average in parts of the south, while the north observed above average night-time temperatures.
Widespread rain across southern and western NT
- Territory-wide, rainfall during March was 1% above the long-term average.
- Rainfall across the Territory's Top End was close to average but further south, particularly in western and southern parts, broad areas of the NT had above average rainfall during the month.
- Some sites in the Gregory District had their highest March daily rainfall on record, while other sites in the Gregory District, as well as sites in the south-west NT, had their highest total March rainfall for at least 20 years
- Rainfall for the wet season to-date (October 2020–March 2021) across the NT was 26% above the long-term average.
Temperatures a little above average
- Across the Northern Territory, the mean temperature for the month was 0.52 °C above the long-term average.
- The mean maximum temperature was 0.35 °C above average, with the warmest anomalies observed in the north and east of the NT; areas in the south-west that had significant rainfall during March saw below average daytime temperatures.
- Dum In Mirrie on the north-west coast had its warmest March day on record, while some sites in the southern NT had their coldest March day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.
- The mean minimum temperature was 0.68 °C above average, with most of the NT experiencing warmer nights during March; the exception was a regon in the south-west which was generally up to 1 °C below the long-term average.
- Yulara had its warmest March night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
Darwin Airport
- Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 172.6 mm, which is 55% of the long-term average of 312.6 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 32.3 °C, which is 0.3 °C above the long-term average of 32.0 °C.
- The warmest day was 33.7 °C on the 26th, and the coolest day was on the 8th when the temperature reached 28.1 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.1 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 24.6 °C.
- The coldest morning was 22.1 °C on the 18th, and the warmest morning was on the 7th when the minimum temperature was 28.2 °C.
- Rainfall for the wet season to date at Darwin Airport is 1771.8 mm, which is above the long-term average of 1676.1 mm.
- For the year to date, the mean maximum temperature at Darwin Airport is 31.8 °C, equal to the long-term average, and the mean minimum temperature is 25.1 °C, 0.4 °C above the long-term average.
Alice Springs Airport
- Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 99.0 mm, which is 323% of the long-term average of 30.7 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 31.4 °C, which is 1.4 °C below the long-term average of 32.9 °C.
- The warmest day was 40.8 °C on the 3rd, and the coolest day was on the 14th when the temperature reached 16.3 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 18.3 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 17.6 °C.
- The coldest morning was 11.7 °C on the 31st, and the warmest morning was on the 10th, when the minimum temperature was 24.8 °C.
- Rainfall for the wet season to date at Alice Springs Airport is 276.4 mm, which is below the long-term average of 213.4 mm.
- For the year to date, the mean maximum temperature at Alice Springs Airport is 34.3 °C, 0.5 °C below the long-term average, and the mean minimum temperature is 20.2 °C, 0.2 °C above the long-term average.
Severe weather
- 4 March: widespread thunderstorm activity across the north-coastal Top End produced intense rainfall at McCleur Island; rainfall rates from 10 minutes to 6 hours had an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of between 1 and 10%, including rainfall rates in 30 minutes (78.2 mm), 1 hour (118.4 mm) and 2 hours (126.2 mm)—all with an AEP of less than 1%.
- 5 March: thunderstorms in the southern Daly and near Katherine generated a 100 km/h wind gust at Tindal.
- 12 March: pulse thunderstorms in the southern NT generated a severe wind gust of 98 km/h at Ti Tree, north of Alice Springs.
- 15 March: widespread thunderstorm activity in the southern Daly and Gregory districts led to heavy rain at a number of sites, including a March record for a daily fall at Bradshaw (159.2 mm). A 3-hourly rainfall total of 113.2 mm had an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of between 2 and 5%.
- 18 March: heavy rainfall around the Katherine region and over the Gregory District produced widespread heavy falls: at Tindal, a 2-hourly rainfall total of 91.0 mm had an annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of between 5 and 10%.
- 19 March: heavy rainfall in the Gregory District led to heavy rain at a number of sites, including an annual daily record of 109.2 mm for Sunshine Bore, north-east of Lajamanu; a 1-hourly rainfall total of 70.0 mm had an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of between 2 and 5%.
- 19 March: heavy rainfall was also observed around Katherine on the 19th, including a daily total of 114.5 mm at Birdie Creek; a peak rainfall rate of 83.5 mm in 1 hour had an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of less than 1%.
- 24 March: thunderstorm activity in the Arnhem District preoduced a record dailly rainfall observation of 150.6 mm at Ngukurr: a rainfall rate of 128.2 mm in 1 hour had an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of less than 1%.
- 29 March: a thunderstorm in the Darwin region generated a 90 km/h wind gust at Darwin Wharf.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in March 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 42.6 °C at Walungurru Airport on the 3rd |
| Warmest days on average | 37.0 °C at Tennant Creek Airport |
| Coolest days on average | 30.8 °C at McCluer Island |
| Coldest day | 16.3 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 14th |
| Coldest night | 11.7 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 31st |
| Coolest nights on average | 18.3 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Warmest nights on average | 26.2 °C at McCluer Island |
| Warmest night | 29.9 °C at Yulara Airport on the 4th |
| Warmest on average overall | 30.7 °C at Tennant Creek Airport |
| Coolest on average overall | 24.8 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Wettest overall | 405.5 mm at Alcan Minesite |
| Wettest day | 159.2 mm at Bradshaw on the 16th |
| Strongest wind gust | 100 km/h at Tindal RAAF on the 5th |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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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Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Record highest March daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Timber Creek | 118.2 | on the 18th | 95.6 | on the 28th in 2006 | 41 | |
| Moolooloo | 119.4 | on the 18th | 102.5 | on the 16th in 1989 | 31 | |
| Bradshaw | 159.2 | on the 16th | 87.6 | on the 29th in 2013 | 20 | |
| Highest March total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for March |
|||
| Ormiston Gorge | 116.0 | 188.1 | in 1989 | 40.7 | |
| Moolooloo | 241.4 | 283.0 | in 1989* | 96.8 | |
| Curtin Springs | 80.4 | 137.0 | in 2001 | 27.8 | |
| Watarrka | 144.5 | 237.2 | in 2001 | 32.9 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
| Record highest March temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 35.5 | on the 28th | 35.1 | on the 16th in 2020 | 23 | 32.0 |
| Record lowest March daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
| Jervois | 19.2 | on the 14th | 19.4 | on the 13th in 1970 | 53 | 34.7 |
| Rabbit Flat | 21.3 | on the 15th | 22.7 | on the 3rd in 2020 | 25 | 36.7 |
| Territory Grape Farm | 20.1 | on the 14th | 21.5 | on the 29th in 2007 | 25 | 34.7 |
| Record highest March daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
| Yulara Airport | 29.9 | on the 4th | 28.3 | on the 10th in 2006 | 34 | 19.4 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for March 2021 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for March 2021 |
Diff from average |
Highest for March 2021 |
Mean for March 2021 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for March 2021 |
Total for March 2021 |
Average for March |
Rank of March 2021 |
Fraction of March average |
|||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Airport | 33.4 | +0.2 | 35.1 | 1st | 23.5 | 0.0 | 21.6 | 18th | 20.6 | 227.6 | v low | 9% |
| Black Point | 31.6 | +0.1 | 33.2 | 26th | 25.7 | +0.1 | 23.9 | 4th | 92.6 | 237.0 | low | 39% |
| Central Arnhem Plateau | 32.1 | -0.2 | 34.7 | 1st | 23.2 | +0.2 | 21.1 | 5th | 123.0 | 204.5 | average | 60% |
| Channel Point | 32.2 | +0.2 | 34.5 | 30th | 24.9 | +0.1 | 22.0 | 2nd | 187.8 | 326.9 | low | 57% |
| Charles Point | 31.9 | 33.9 | 30th | 25.0 | 21.5 | 9th | 20.4 | |||||
| Croker Island Airport | 31.5 | 33.1 | 26th | 25.6 | 22.4 | 5th | 242.4 | |||||
| Darwin Airport | 32.3 | +0.3 | 33.7 | 26th | 25.1 | +0.5 | 22.1 | 18th | 172.6 | 312.6 | low | 55% |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 34.2 | -0.5 | 37.5 | 4th | 23.4 | 0.0 | 20.5 | 30th | 114.8 | 143.9 | average | 80% |
| Douglas River Research Farm | 34.5 | +0.4 | 36.1 | 5th | 23.5 | +0.3 | 21.9 | 7th | 284.0 | 224.7 | average | 126% |
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 32.5 | +0.5 | 35.5 | 28th | 25.0 | -0.3 | 22.8 | 2nd | 229.8 | 298.6 | average | 77% |
| Jabiru Airport | 34.3 | +0.5 | 36.3 | 7th | 24.8 | +0.3 | 22.1 | 8th | 265.0 | 304.9 | average | 87% |
| Kangaroo Flats (Defence) | 34.0 | 35.2 | 28th | 24.2 | 22.3 | 18th | 191.0 | |||||
| McCluer Island | 30.8 | -0.3 | 32.5 | 22nd | 26.2 | +0.1 | 23.4 | 15th | 374.4 | 218.9 | high | 171% |
| Middle Point | 33.4 | -0.4 | 35.6 | 4th | 24.1 | +0.1 | 21.8 | 5th | 320.4 | 247.5 | high | 129% |
| Mount Bundey North (Defence) | 34.3 | 36.2 | 7th | 23.9 | 21.8 | 5th | 273.6 | |||||
| Mount Bundey South (Defence) | 34.8 | 36.7 | 7th | 24.0 | 21.9 | 18th | 212.0 | |||||
| Murganella Airstrip | 32.6 | 34.2 | 26th | 24.1 | 22.9 | 5th | 181.8 | |||||
| Noonamah Airstrip | 33.3 | 34.8 | 30th | 24.3 | 22.3 | 5th | 255.2 | |||||
| Oenpelli Airport | 33.2 | 35.1 | 17th | 25.1 | 22.9 | 5th | 254.8 | |||||
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 32.2 | +0.1 | 33.8 | 5th | 24.5 | +0.3 | 22.8 | 27th | 155.0 | 350.7 | v low | 44% |
| Point Fawcett | 32.0 | +0.1 | 33.4 | 28th | 24.9 | -0.1 | 23.0 | 1st | 200.4 | 243.2 | average | 82% |
| Point Stuart | 32.3 | 33.5 | 26th | 24.8 | 23.1 | 18th | 205.8 | 223.0 | average | 92% | ||
| Port Keats Airport | 33.3 | -0.3 | 36.7 | 28th | 24.5 | +0.2 | 22.5 | 17th | 258.0 | 205.0 | average | 126% |
| Tindal RAAF | 34.6 | +0.2 | 36.8 | 5th | 24.1 | +1.0 | 21.5 | 30th | 253.6 | 161.5 | high | 157% |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Wessel | 32.5 | 35.0 | 8th | 25.8 | 23.5 | 31st | 245.6 | 215.6 | average | 114% | ||
| Gove Airport | 31.9 | +0.5 | 34.1 | 2nd | 24.4 | +0.3 | 22.6 | 6th | 264.6 | 276.1 | average | 96% |
| Maningrida Airport | 32.1 | -0.1 | 34.8 | 5th | 24.4 | -0.2 | 22.8 | 2nd | 237.2 | 298.7 | average | 79% |
| Milingimbi Airport | 32.6 | +0.1 | 34.9 | 3rd | 24.8 | -0.2 | 21.3 | 7th | 325.8 | 264.2 | average | 123% |
| Ngayawili | 31.4 | -0.3 | 33.5 | 26th | 25.3 | +0.3 | 23.1 | 30th | 221.0 | 262.5 | average | 84% |
| Warruwi Airport | 31.6 | +0.1 | 34.0 | 6th | 25.5 | +0.2 | 22.6 | 8th | 142.0 | 234.4 | average | 61% |
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola Airport | 33.9 | -0.2 | 38.5 | 3rd | 23.9 | +0.5 | 20.1 | 6th | 156.0 | 153.2 | average | 102% |
| Bulman | 34.9 | +0.3 | 37.6 | 1st | 23.9 | +0.5 | 21.8 | 30th | 106.0 | 223.9 | average | 47% |
| Daly Waters Airstrip | 35.1 | +0.3 | 38.2 | 2nd | 23.2 | +0.7 | 17.8 | 1st | 34.0 | 107.5 | low | 32% |
| McArthur River Mine Airport | 35.2 | 0.0 | 40.3 | 4th | 23.9 | +0.3 | 20.0 | 1st | 212.4 | 146.0 | high | 145% |
| Ngukurr Airport | 35.0 | 39.3 | 4th | 24.5 | 21.8 | 7th | 287.6 | |||||
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Bradshaw | 35.8 | -0.2 | 38.6 | 4th | 24.9 | +0.5 | 22.1 | 16th | 385.4 | 134.9 | v high | 286% |
| Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) | 35.5 | 38.9 | 4th | 24.5 | 22.6 | 30th | 277.0 | |||||
| Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) | 35.2 | 37.4 | 5th | 23.7 | 20.2 | 31st | 223.6 | |||||
| Lajamanu Airport | 35.0 | -0.4 | 41.5 | 4th | 22.4 | +0.1 | 18.1 | 16th | 130.0 | 79.9 | high | 163% |
| Victoria River Downs | 35.2 | -0.1 | 38.6 | 2nd | 24.0 | +0.7 | 20.5 | 30th | 145.6 | 108.4 | high | 134% |
| Wave Hill | 36.0 | +0.4 | 41.5 | 4th | 22.9 | +0.6 | 18.6 | 30th | 130.9 | 116.1 | average | 113% |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Elliott | 36.3 | +0.5 | 41.0 | 4th | 23.0 | +0.6 | 17.8 | 1st | 41.4 | 79.7 | average | 52% |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 37.0 | +2.4 | 41.4 | 2nd | 24.2 | +0.8 | 20.0 | 16th | ||||
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 31.4 | -1.4 | 40.8 | 3rd | 18.3 | +0.7 | 11.7 | 31st | 99.0 | 31.8 | v high | 311% |
| Curtin Springs | 32.1 | -1.9 | 41.2 | 1st | 18.9 | +0.2 | 13.0 | 16th | 80.4 | 27.8 | high | 289% |
| Jervois | 34.4 | -0.3 | 42.0 | 8th | 20.1 | +0.6 | 14.7 | 15th | 49.6 | 36.3 | high | 137% |
| Rabbit Flat | 35.1 | -1.6 | 42.3 | 3rd | 21.2 | -0.6 | 16.7 | 28th | 91.0 | 68.9 | high | 132% |
| Territory Grape Farm | 32.7 | -2.0 | 39.8 | 2nd | 18.7 | -1.0 | 13.6 | 18th | 68.2 | 23.1 | high | 295% |
| Walungurru Airport | 34.0 | -2.9 | 42.6 | 3rd | 23.4 | -1.2 | 16.1 | 21st | 87.0 | 42.0 | high | 207% |
| Yulara Airport | 33.1 | -1.6 | 41.5 | 3rd | 20.0 | +0.6 | 12.9 | 16th | 58.2 | 31.7 | high | 184% |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists 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. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 1 pm on Thursday 1 April 2021. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.
Averages for individual sites 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.
Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
