Northern Territory in August 2022: Warm days and nights for northern parts

August in the Northern Territory was warmer than average. Across the northern half of the Territory, days and nights were warm. Across the southern half, mean monthly temperatures for both days and nights were around average. Above average rainfall was observed in the Tanami and Barkly Districts, though average rainfall is very low in August.

Mostly dry

  • Rainfall for August 2022 was 11% below the 1961–1990 average for the Northern Territory as a whole, but August 2022 was still the wettest August since 2016.
  • For most of the Northern Territory, August was typically dry with little or no rain recorded for the month.
  • Rainfall was observed from cloud bands and inland troughs associated with complex low pressure systems in the Southern Ocean on the 4th August, 11th August and 30th August.
  • Some sites had their highest total August rainfall for at least 20 years.

Warm days and nights over the north

  • The northern half of the Northern Territory saw warm days nights and warm days throughout August.
  • For the Northern Territory as a whole, the August mean maximum temperature was 1.05 °C warmer than the 1961–1990 average, the coolest August since 2019.
  • The August mean minimum temperature was 0.47 °C above average, the coolest August since 2019.
  • On the 3rd and 4th of August, daily maximum temperatures in central Australia were around 30 °C, which is around 5 to 8 °C above average for August. In central Australia temperatures were again around 30 °C from 17th to 18th August.
  • The hottest day since April was observed for the north-west Top End on 8th August. Darwin Airport reached 34.9 °C, Tiwi Islands 35 °C, and rural areas of Darwin 36 to 37 °C.
  • A dry south-east surge impacted the Top End from 15th to 17th, which brought elevated fire danger ratings. Fire bans were enforced for Darwin and Adelaide River areas on 17th August.
  • On 16th August a record for lowest minimum temperature for August was set at Maningrida (11.3 °C). The previous August record was 11.7 °C set in 2004.
  • On 19th August a record for lowest minimum temperature for August was equalled at Wadeye (10.0 °C). The previous August record was 10.0 °C set in 2002.
  • Some sites had their highest August temperature on record.
  • Some sites had their coldest August day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.
  • Some sites had their lowest August temperature on record.
  • Some sites had their warmest August night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
  • Some sites had their highest August mean temperature for at least 20 years.

Darwin Airport

  • Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 0 mm, which is 0% of the long-term average of 4.6 mm
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 32.8 °C, which is 1.3 °C above the long-term average of 31.5 °C
  • The warmest day was 34.9 °C on the 8th, and the coolest day was on the 3rd when the temperature reached 30.0 °C
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 20.8 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 20.3 °C
  • The coldest morning was 15.3 °C on the 16th, and the warmest morning was on the 31st when the minimum temperature was 25.1 °C

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in August 2022
Hottest day 38.3 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) on the 30th
Warmest days on average 35.4 °C at Oenpelli Airport
Coolest days on average 22.8 °C at Curtin Springs
Coldest day 14.4 °C at Arltunga on the 23rd
Coldest night -3.2 °C at Arltunga on the 17th
Coolest nights on average 4.9 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Warmest nights on average 24.3 °C at McCluer Island
Warmest night 25.8 °C at McCluer Island on the 30th
Warmest on average overall 27.7 °C at Jabiru Airport
Coolest on average overall 14.0 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Wettest overall 31.0 mm at Pigeon Hole
Wettest day 31.0 mm at Pigeon Hole on the 31st
Strongest wind gust 83 km/h at Walungurru Airport on the 23rd

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


Highest August total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
August
Alexandria 20.2 46.9 in 1947* 2.6

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




Record highest August temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
August
Groote Eylandt Airport 34.1 on the 6th 33.8 on the 29th in 2021 24 30.1



Record lowest August daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
August
Walungurru Airport 15.7 on the 11th 16.3 on the 25th in 2010 20 26.7



Record highest August daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
August
Milingimbi Airport 25.0 on the 29th = 25.0 on the 12th in 2003 20 19.3



Record lowest August temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
August
Groote Eylandt Airport 7.7 on the 16th = 7.7 on the 30th in 2019 24 15.3
Port Keats Airport 10.0 on the 19th = 10.0 on the 21st in 2002 24 17.5



Highest August mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
August
Daly Waters Airstrip 23.3 23.9 in 1958* 21.9

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




Summary statistics for August 2022
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
August
2022
Diff
from
average
Highest for
August
2022
Mean for
August
2022
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
August
2022
Total for
August
2022
Average
for
August
Rank of
August
2022
Fraction of
August
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Airport 34.2 +0.7 36.6 30th 17.8 +0.7 12.7 16th 0 2.0 lowest 0%
Central Arnhem Plateau 31.9 +1.1 34.9 6th 16.9 +0.9 9.8 17th 0 0.7 v low 0%
Channel Point 30.4 +0.7 33.0 23rd 18.7 +0.5 13.0 17th 0 3.3 lowest 0%
Charles Point 30.0   34.1 23rd 21.7   19.0 18th 0
Croker Island Airport 31.9   33.9 28th 21.5   17.3 19th 0.8
Darwin Airport 32.8 +1.3 34.9 8th 20.8 +0.5 15.3 16th 0 4.6 lowest 0%
Delamere Weapons Range 33.0 +1.1 36.2 6th 17.7 +1.7 12.3 22nd 0 0.2 lowest 0%
Douglas River Research Farm 34.6 +0.9 37.8 30th 14.8 +0.7 6.4 18th 0 1.1 lowest 0%
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip 31.7 +0.8 34.7 22nd 19.3 +0.2 13.7 26th 0 3.0 lowest 0%
Jabiru Airport 35.3 +1.4 37.9 28th 20.2 +1.0 14.7 18th 0 2.4 lowest 0%
Kangaroo Flats (Defence) 34.8   37.1 30th 18.6   13.0 16th 0
Knuckey Lagoon 34.0   35.9 8th 17.6   11.6 16th 0
McCluer Island 28.2 +0.4 29.7 30th 24.3 +0.8 22.1 17th 0.4 0.4 high 100%
Middle Point 34.8 +0.5 36.8 31st 16.2 +1.3 9.6 16th 0 2.0 lowest 0%
Mount Bundey North (Defence) 34.8   37.1 30th 20.3   16.2 18th 0
Mount Bundey South (Defence) 34.7   37.2 30th 18.6   10.9 17th 0
Murganella Airstrip 32.6   34.1 23rd 17.2   10.4 16th 0 0 v low
Noonamah Airstrip 34.9   37.2 30th 17.7   10.3 16th 0.6 0.7 high 86%
Oenpelli Airport 35.4   37.5 30th 19.6   12.2 16th 0 0.2 v low 0%
Pirlangimpi Airport 33.6 +1.4 35.6 28th 20.1 +0.9 16.1 26th 0.6 6.4 average 9%
Point Fawcett 31.6 +0.5 33.2 31st 18.7 +0.3 15.1 18th 0 1.5 lowest 0%
Point Stuart 33.1 +0.8 36.1 23rd 19.9 +1.3 15.2 17th 0 6.4 lowest 0%
Port Keats Airport 33.0 +0.9 35.5 14th 17.6 +0.1 10.0 19th 0.2 0.6 average 33%
Tindal RAAF 33.7 +1.3 36.8 29th 16.4 +1.4 9.5 26th 0 1.0 lowest 0%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Cape Wessel 30.8 +0.2 32.2 29th 24.1 +0.5 21.6 18th 9.6 9.7 average 99%
Gove Airport 29.6 +0.9 31.5 28th 21.0 +1.8 13.8 18th 0 5.0 lowest 0%
Groote Eylandt Airport 30.4 +0.3 34.1 6th 16.7 +1.4 7.7 16th 0 1.2 lowest 0%
Maningrida Airport 32.4 +1.0 34.9 23rd 18.7 +0.6 11.3 16th 0 1.9 v low 0%
Milingimbi Airport 32.1 +1.1 33.8 14th 20.0 +0.7 13.7 16th 0 1.8 lowest 0%
Ngayawili 31.7 +1.1 33.7 28th 20.5 +1.0 14.0 17th 0.2 0.9 low 22%
Warruwi Airport 30.3 +1.0 31.8 28th 23.0 +1.2 20.4 18th 0 0.5 lowest 0%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola Airport 33.3 +1.1 36.1 6th 15.0 +1.5 8.1 16th 0 0.6 lowest 0%
Centre Island 28.4 +0.5 32.8 23rd 20.5 +0.9 17.1 25th 0 1.6 lowest 0%
Daly Waters Airstrip 32.9 +1.6 36.1 29th 13.6 +1.0 5.4 18th 1.2 0.4 v high 300%
McArthur River Mine Airport 33.7 +1.5 36.7 30th 14.5 +1.1 6.2 16th 0 0.3 lowest 0%
Ngukurr Airport 33.2 +0.3 38.2 6th 16.6 +1.9 9.8 16th 0 0.1 v low 0%
Victoria (district 14F)
Bradshaw 35.2 +1.4 38.1 30th 17.6 +0.9 9.5 26th 0 0 lowest
Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) 35.1   38.3 30th 18.4   12.1 19th 0
Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) 34.9   38.1 30th 12.5   4.6 19th 0
Lajamanu Airport 31.1 +1.1 35.9 29th 13.4 +2.2 7.5 26th 0 1.0 lowest 0%
Victoria River Downs 33.7 +1.7 37.6 29th 14.7 +1.6 6.6 26th 0 0.9 lowest 0%
Barkly (district 15A)
Elliott 31.0 -0.2 36.3 29th 14.1 +0.9 7.7 18th 0 1.0 lowest 0%
Tennant Creek Airport 28.0 +0.4 35.6 29th 14.8 +0.4 9.2 25th 12.6 2.5 v high 504%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 23.1 +0.3 32.1 3rd 4.9 -1.0 -1.3 25th 0 8.3 lowest 0%
Curtin Springs 22.8 -0.4 30.0 17th     0.5 13th 3.6 7.9 average 46%
Jervois 25.0 0.0 33.9 4th 8.1 +1.0 2.3 9th 1.4 6.8 average 21%
Rabbit Flat 29.8 +0.4 34.8 29th 9.9 +1.6 2.5 25th 0 2.6 lowest 0%
Territory Grape Farm 25.4 0.0 32.3 3rd 7.1 +0.2 0.7 13th 1.0 3.8 average 26%
Walungurru Airport 25.8 -0.9 31.5 3rd 12.8 +0.4 6.5 12th 17.8 4.9 v high 363%
Watarrka 24.3 -0.2 30.8 3rd 7.3 -0.8 0.1 12th 4.5 5.9 average 76%
Yulara Airport 23.1 -0.7 29.8 17th 6.1 +0.2 1.1 14th 6.2 4.9 average 127%

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following 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 11 am on Thursday 1 September 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.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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