Northern Territory in April 2022: Third-warmest April on record

Rainfall was above average for the north-western and eastern parts of the Northern Territory, with below average rainfall in the south-west. Mean maximum temperatures were above average across the whole territory, and mean minimum temperatures were above average for most regions. The mean temperature for the Territory was the third-highest for April on record, while it was the fifth-highest and seventh-highest on record for mean maximum and minimum temperature respectively.

Wet in the north-west and eastern districts, dry in the south-west

  • Rainfall was 23% below the 1961-1990 average for the territory.
  • Thunderstorms produced moderate to heavy daily falls of 50–100 mm in the north-western territory on the 13th and 14th, including a number of April daily rainfall records

Warm days and nights across most of the territory

  • The mean temperature for the territory was 2.34 °C above the 1961-1990 average, the third-highest on record for April, and the highest since 2018.
  • Mean maximum temperatures were above average across the whole territory. A number of sites in the Carpentaria and Gregory districts had their warmest April on record in terms of mean maximum temperature.
  • The mean maximum temperature was 2.84 °C above the 1961-1990 average, the fifth-highest on record for the territory.
  • Mean minimum temperatures were above average for most of the territory. Darwin Airport had its warmest April nights since 1998.
  • The mean minimum temperature was 1.84 °C above the 1961-1990 average, the seventh-highest on record for the territory.
  • Hot days with maximum temperatures in the mid-30s to the low 40s were observed for most of the territory on the 11th and 12th. A number of sites in the Carpentaria and Gregory districts had their highest April temperature on record.

Darwin Airport

  • Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 104.6 mm, which is 103% of the long-term average of 101.7 mm
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 33.9 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term average of 32.8 °C, the warmest April (days) since 2016 (34.5 °C).
  • The warmest day was 35.2 °C on the 25th, and the coolest day was on the 1st when the temperature reached 32.2 °C
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.2 °C, which is 1.2 °C above the long-term average of 24.0 °C, the warmest April (nights) since 1998 (25.5 °C).
  • The coldest morning was 23.3 °C on the 6th, and the warmest morning was on the 28th when the minimum temperature was 26.8 °C

Alice Springs Airport

  • Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 1.8 mm, which is 11% of the long-term average of 16 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 30.9 °C, which is 2.5 °C above the long-term average of 28.4 °C.
  • The warmest day was 37.0 °C, on the 12th, and the coolest day was on the 25th when the temperature reached 23.1 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 13.5 °C, which is 0.9 °C above the long-term average of 12.6 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 8.2 °C on the 22nd, and the warmest morning was on the 12th when the minimum temperature was 23.2 °C.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in April 2022
Hottest day 41.0 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 12th
Warmest days on average 38.7 °C at Victoria River Downs
Coolest days on average 30.2 °C at Arltunga
Coldest day 21.7 °C at Arltunga on the 25th
Coldest night 8.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 22nd
Coolest nights on average 13.5 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Warmest nights on average 27.4 °C at McCluer Island
Warmest night 29.2 °C at McCluer Island on the 30th
Warmest on average overall 30.6 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence)
Coolest on average overall 22.1 °C at Arltunga
Wettest overall 492.8 mm at Gove Airport
Wettest day 221.4 mm at Gove Airport on the 17th
Strongest wind gust 85 km/h at Darwin Airport on the 12th

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall
Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures
Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures
Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

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


Record highest April daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Old Delamere 75.6 on the 14th 54.6 on the 2nd in 1887 52
Bullo River 55.0 on the 14th 49.0 on the 11th in 2020 29
Bradshaw 66.0 on the 13th 59.0 on the 24th in 2012 22



Record highest April temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
April
McArthur River Mine Airport 40.2 on the 11th 40.0 on the 6th in 2015 44 34.9
Rabbit Flat 41.0 on the 12th 40.7 on the 4th in 2012 26 34.2
Delamere Weapons Range 39.2 on the 11th 38.9 on the 4th in 2020 25 34.4
Middle Point 37.2 on the 11th = 37.2 on the 19th in 2012 21 34.2
Milingimbi Airport 35.8 on the 1st = 35.8 on the 30th in 2020 20 32.4



Record lowest April daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
April
Gove Airport 26.0 on the 16th 26.1 on the 4th in 2001 44 31.0



Record highest April mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
April
Victoria River Downs 38.7 37.9 in 2018 56 34.8
Daly Waters Airstrip 37.8 37.2 in 2002 52 34.0
Tindal RAAF 37.4 36.7 in 2020 34 34.2
Delamere Weapons Range 36.5 = 36.5 in 2018 24 34.4
McCluer Island 32.1 = 32.1 in 2018 21 30.9



Record highest April daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
April
Yulara Airport 27.5 on the 13th 25.6 on the 2nd in 2005 35 14.6
Watarrka 28.0 on the 13th 27.5 on the 9th in 2005 28 16.6



Record highest April mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
April
Elliott 22.2 = 22.2 in 2019 41 19.7
McCluer Island 27.4 = 27.4 in 2018 21 26.2

Highest April mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
April
Darwin Airport 25.2 25.5 in 1998 24.0



Record highest April mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
April
Victoria River Downs 30.5 29.7 in 2010 55 27.3
Elliott 29.5 29.0 in 2005 41 27.1
Tindal RAAF 29.6 29.2 in 2020 34 27.4
Lajamanu Airport 29.4 29.3 in 2020 29 26.2
Borroloola Airport 29.0 = 29.0 in 2016 27 27.3
Middle Point 29.6 29.5 in 2016 20 28.3

Highest April mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
April
Daly Waters Airstrip 28.9 29.8 in 1961* 26.8

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




Summary statistics for April 2022
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
April
2022
Diff
from
average
Highest for
April
2022
Mean for
April
2022
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
April
2022
Total for
April
2022
Average
for
April
Rank of
April
2022
Fraction of
April
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Airport 34.8 +1.0 36.5 11th 22.7 +0.9 18.6 23rd 49.4 84.7 average 58%
Central Arnhem Plateau 34.1 +1.6 36.0 5th 22.4 +0.8 19.1 23rd 53.8 64.3 average 84%
Channel Point 33.2 +0.7 35.0 25th 24.7 +1.2 22.0 23rd 63.4 100.2 average 63%
Charles Point 33.3   34.8 20th 25.4   23.7 5th 83.2
Croker Island Airport 33.2   34.4 23rd 25.4   23.8 10th 64.6
Darwin Airport 33.9 +1.1 35.2 25th 25.2 +1.2 23.3 6th 104.6 101.7 average 103%
Delamere Weapons Range 36.5 +2.1 39.2 11th 21.8 +0.6 17.4 3rd 66.6 18.4 v high 362%
Douglas River Research Farm 36.0 +1.3 37.7 8th 21.4 +0.9 16.5 10th 74.2 49.7 high 149%
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip 33.6 +0.6 35.8 23rd 25.0 +0.7 23.0 10th 50.0 96.3 average 52%
Jabiru Airport 36.1 +1.5 37.8 11th 24.5 +0.8 22.3 17th 72.0 89.1 average 81%
Kangaroo Flats (Defence) 35.9   37.1 11th 23.7   20.6 23rd 69.6
Knuckey Lagoon 34.6   36.0 25th 24.0   22.2 2nd 170.8
McCluer Island 32.1 +1.2 34.0 11th 27.4 +1.2 25.1 14th 70.8 147.9 average 48%
Middle Point 35.7 +1.5 37.2 11th 23.4 +1.0 20.6 23rd 131.6 97.6 high 135%
Mount Bundey North (Defence) 35.3   36.3 11th 23.7   22.2 24th 103.2
Mount Bundey South (Defence) 36.2   37.6 11th 23.1   19.5 23rd 76.0
Murganella Airstrip 34.3   36.5 22nd 23.0   20.7 18th 52.8
Noonamah Airstrip 35.6   36.9 11th 24.1   21.1 23rd 76.8
Oenpelli Airport 35.7   37.7 22nd 24.4   22.7 22nd 57.4 75.8 average 76%
Pirlangimpi Airport 33.9 +1.0 34.9 9th 23.7 +0.5 21.8 1st 259.4 159.5 high 163%
Point Fawcett 32.9 +0.5 33.9 12th 24.0 +0.5 22.0 24th 85.4 130.9 average 65%
Point Stuart 34.0   35.3 2nd 25.0   22.4 7th 80.0 121.6 average 66%
Tindal RAAF 37.4 +3.2 39.1 18th 21.7 +1.1 16.8 10th 2.0 35.8 average 6%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Cape Wessel 32.7 +0.5 34.7 10th 25.7 -0.4 23.7 18th 309.2 172.0 high 180%
Gove Airport 31.8 +0.8 34.6 10th 24.1 +0.8 22.6 7th 492.8 225.7 high 218%
Groote Eylandt Airport 32.9 +0.4 35.6 10th 22.3 +0.5 19.1 1st 257.6 153.3 high 168%
Maningrida Airport 33.3 +0.7 35.3 1st 24.0 +0.6 22.2 17th 92.2 132.4 average 70%
Milingimbi Airport 33.6 +1.2 35.8 1st 24.4 +0.4 22.4 22nd 99.0 120.3 average 82%
Ngayawili 32.1 +0.2 34.2 22nd 24.0 +0.3 22.0 8th 107.8 146.3 average 74%
Warruwi Airport 33.0 +1.4 34.5 22nd 25.8 +0.7 22.4 3rd 100.0 115.1 average 87%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola Airport 36.7 +2.4 39.9 10th 21.2 +0.9 15.8 9th 35.2 57.3 average 61%
Bulman 37.1 +2.9 39.6 10th 21.3 +0.4 16.8 9th 31.6 60.7 average 52%
Centre Island 33.8 +1.6 36.4 9th 26.7 +1.3 24.1 24th 0.2 87.6 v low 0%
Daly Waters Airstrip 37.8 +3.8 40.4 11th 20.0 +0.4 13.4 9th 8.2 20.4 average 40%
McArthur River Mine Airport 37.3 +2.4 40.2 11th 21.8 +1.0 15.4 9th 24.4 31.8 average 77%
Ngukurr Airport 37.8   40.2 10th 22.6   18.0 9th 26.0 42.1 average 62%
Victoria (district 14F)
Bradshaw 38.0 +1.7 40.3 11th 22.3 -0.2 18.4 3rd 82.0 24.2 v high 339%
Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) 37.9   40.3 11th 23.1   18.9 10th 100.2
Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) 37.4   39.6 11th 19.9   14.5 4th 75.4
Lajamanu Airport 37.5 +3.5 40.3 18th 21.4 +3.1 16.3 3rd 0 14.2 lowest 0%
Victoria River Downs 38.7 +3.9 40.7 11th 22.2 +2.4 17.5 3rd 10.8 22.3 average 48%
Barkly (district 15A)
Elliott 36.9 +2.3 40.0 11th 22.2 +2.5 16.5 3rd 0 20.1 lowest 0%
Tennant Creek Airport 34.7 +2.8 38.2 12th 22.3 +1.8 19.1 26th 0 15.2 lowest 0%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 30.9 +2.5 37.0 12th 13.5 +0.9 8.2 22nd 1.8 16.0 average 11%
Arltunga 30.2 +1.1 36.0 13th 14.5 +1.1 8.3 4th 2.2 15.2 average 14%
Jervois 32.5 +1.9 38.6 12th 16.2 +1.7 11.2 5th 7.4 15.3 average 48%
Rabbit Flat 37.4 +3.2 41.0 12th 18.7 +1.8 14.1 10th 0 17.1 lowest 0%
Territory Grape Farm 33.4 +2.5 37.7 12th 15.7 +1.2 11.2 22nd 0 15.3 lowest 0%
Walungurru Airport 33.9 +0.7 38.9 15th 21.7 +0.9 16.9 20th 0 11.6 lowest 0%
Yulara Airport 31.5 +1.5 38.6 16th 16.1 +1.5 10.6 4th 0 13.9 lowest 0%

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 8 am on Monday 2 May 2022. 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
(03) 9669 4057

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