Friday, 4 November 2022 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in October 2022: generally wet, and a heatwave in the Top End

It was the wettest October since 2010 for the Northern Territory, with storms and widespread rain on several occasions. Temperatures were above average across most of the Northern Territory except for parts of the south-west. The Top End experienced severe to extreme heatwave conditions towards the end of the month, with many sites setting minimum temperature records.

Wetter than usual

  • Averaged across the Northern Territory 40.2 mm of rain fell in October, more than double the 1961–1990 average and the highest October total since 2010.
  • Storms and widespread rain bands saw most of the Northern Territory receive above average rainfall except for East Arnhem Land and parts of the Carpentaria District reporting near average rainfall.
  • Storms across the Top End at the start and in the middle of the month saw sites report their highest October daily rainfall on record.
  • A few sites, including Alexandria in the eastern Barkly District with 129 years of observations, had their highest total October rainfall on record.
  • A few other sites had their highest total October rainfall for at least 20 years.
  • Monthly totals of over 50 mm in the Daly, Arnhem and Barkly Districts saw much of those areas reach their Northern Rainfall Onset threshold (cumulative rainfall since 1 September) 1 to 2 months earlier than usual.

Generally warm

  • Day time and night-time temperatures in October were generally above average across much of the Territory except for parts of the south-west.
  • For the Northern Territory overall, the mean maximum temperature was 0.61 °C above the 1961–1990 October average.
  • Maximum temperatures were very much above average (warmest 10% of all Octobers since 1910) for much of the Top End but were close to or below average in southern areas.
  • McCluer Island and Groote Eyland Airport had their highest October mean daily maximum temperature on record.
  • Some sites, including McCluer Island and Groote Eylandt Airport, had their highest October mean temperature on record.
  • Mean minimum temperatures were 1.51 °C above average for the Northern Territory overall, the 10th highest on record for October since 1910.
  • October mean minimum temperatures were above average across most of the Northern Territory and highest on record for much of East Arnhem Land and the Carpentaria District.
  • A number of sites across the Top End had their highest October mean daily minimum temperature on record.
  • Victoria River Downs had its highest October mean daily minimum temperature since 1989.

Darwin Airport

  • Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 161.0 mm, which is 226% of the long-term average of 71.3 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 33.8 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 33.3 °C.
  • The warmest day was 36.4 °C on the 30th, and the coolest day was on the 1st when the temperature reached 29.7 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 26.1 °C, which is 1.2 °C above the long-term average of 24.9 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum of 26.1 °C was the equal-fourth warmest on record for October.
  • The coldest morning was 21.7 °C on the 9th, and the warmest morning was on the 24th when the minimum temperature was 29.2 °C.

Alice Springs Airport

  • Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 27.8 mm, which is 139% of the long-term average of 20.0 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 31.6 °C, which is 0.4 °C above the long-term average of 31.2 °C.
  • The warmest day was 39.4 °C on the 12th, and the coolest day was on the 13th when the temperature reached 21.3 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 15.9 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term average of 14.8 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 6.4 °C on the 14th, and the warmest morning was on the 31st when the minimum temperature was 23.2 °C.

A heatwave across the Top End

  • A trough moved into the Top End and Carpentaria District on the 20th and combined with humid westerly winds to generate heatwave conditions.
  • The heatwave intensified to severe to extreme intensity and expanded across the Top End before conditions eased at the end of the month.
  • The highest temperature recorded was 44.4 °C at Victoria River Downs on the 24th, the equal seventh-highest on record in October in the Northern Territory.
  • McCluer Island had its highest October temperature on record with 34.0 °C on the 22nd.
  • Nights were particularly warm, with many sites having their warmest October night on record during the heatwave.
  • Darwin Airport had 7 consecutive nights with a minimum temperature of at least 28 °C from 22 to 28 October, equalling the record for any month and exceeding the previous October record of 3 nights from 20 to 22 October 2021.
  • Darwin Airport had an October record minimum temperature of 29.2 °C on the 24th, exceeding the previous record of 29.0 °C on 20 October 2021.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in October 2022
Hottest day 44.4 °C at Victoria River Downs on the 24th
Warmest days on average 40.0 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence)
Coolest days on average 29.8 °C at Curtin Springs
Coldest day 20.6 °C at Curtin Springs on the 13th
Coldest night 6.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 14th
Coolest nights on average 14.8 °C at Curtin Springs
Warmest nights on average 27.8 °C at McCluer Island
Warmest night 31.0 °C at Victoria River Downs on the 24th
Warmest on average overall 33.3 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence)
Coolest on average overall 22.4 °C at Curtin Springs
Wettest overall 249.8 mm at Territory Wildlife Park
Wettest day 109.2 mm at Point Stuart on the 21st
Strongest wind gust 137 km/h at Darwin Airport on the 8th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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 October daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record
Pirlangimpi Airport 66.8 on the 12th 66.0 on the 31st in 1999 52
Labelle Downs 75.0 on the 19th 57.0 on the 6th in 2015 35
Batchelor Airport 54.6 on the 5th 50.0 on the 31st in 1999 28
Point Stuart 109.2 on the 21st 71.0 on the 19th in 1996 23
Edith Falls Ridge 86.4 on the 5th 39.6 on the 6th in 2020 20
Upper Fergusson River 59.6 on the 1st 46.4 on the 20th in 1996 20


Record highest October total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
Alexandria 160.0 143.6 in 1975 130 14.6
Elizabeth Valley 207.4 159.9 in 1996 34 69.7
Territory Wildlife Park 249.8 215.9 in 1997 29 81.6
Upper Fergusson River 118.2 65.6 in 2016 21 24.7
Edith Falls Ridge 214.4 131.8 in 2010 20 41.5
West Waterhouse 119.2 99.4 in 2011 20 26.4

Highest October total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
October
Pirlangimpi Airport 227.4 228.2 in 1970* 85.6
McMinns Lagoon 193.2 304.6 in 1978* 81.0
Tipperary 128.0 197.6 in 1954* 45.2
Labelle Downs 218.0 248.8 in 1996* 94.2

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



Record highest October temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
McCluer Island 34.0 on the 22nd 33.5 on the 31st in 2020 23 30.5


Record highest October mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
Borroloola Airport 39.3 39.2 in 2021 28 37.0
Groote Eylandt Airport 35.7 35.4 in 2021 23 34.2
McCluer Island 32.0 31.4 in 2021 22 30.5


Record highest October daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
Darwin Airport 29.2 on the 24th 29.0 on the 20th in 2021 82 24.9
Warruwi Airport 29.0 on the 25th = 29.0 on the 24th in 2005 57 25.4
Borroloola Airport 28.0 on the 24th 27.5 on the 29th in 2007 29 21.4
Point Fawcett 29.5 on the 22nd 28.9 on the 22nd in 2021 25 23.5
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip 29.5 on the 22nd 29.1 on the 30th in 2005 24 25.4
Groote Eylandt Airport 28.3 on the 25th 27.7 on the 24th in 2005 24 21.0
Ngayawili 29.4 on the 23rd 28.3 on the 26th in 2005 24 22.6
McCluer Island 29.1 on the 23rd = 29.1 on the 27th in 2021 23 26.2
Port Keats Airport 28.6 on the 24th = 28.6 on the 22nd in 2021 23 24.1
Milingimbi Airport 28.8 on the 24th 27.9 on the 24th in 2005 20 23.7


Record highest October mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
Warruwi Airport 26.8 = 26.8 in 2008 56 25.4
Centre Island 27.1 26.8 in 1998 47 25.0
Gove Airport 24.7 = 24.7 in 1998 42 21.6
McArthur River Mine Airport 24.6 24.4 in 2021 41 21.3
Borroloola Airport 24.5 24.3 in 1998 28 21.4
Channel Point 26.1 26.0 in 2021 27 24.2
Point Fawcett 25.6 25.3 in 1998 24 23.5
Groote Eylandt Airport 24.5 23.6 in 2021 23 21.0
McCluer Island 27.8 27.3 in 2016 22 26.2
Bulman 25.0 24.7 in 2021 20 21.9

Highest October mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
October
Victoria River Downs 25.5 25.8 in 1989 22.5


Record highest October mean temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
Centre Island 30.9 30.7 in 2021 47 29.0
Gove Airport 29.2 28.9 in 1998 42 26.8
McArthur River Mine Airport 32.0 = 32.0 in 2021 41 29.6
Borroloola Airport 31.8 31.6 in 2021 28 29.2
Groote Eylandt Airport 30.1 29.5 in 2021 23 27.6
McCluer Island 29.9 29.3 in 2021 22 28.4
Bulman 32.2 32.1 in 2021 20 30.2


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for October 2022
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
October
2022		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
October
2022		 Mean for
October
2022		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
October
2022		 Total for
October
2022		 Average
for
October		 Rank of
October
2022		 Fraction of
October
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Airport 35.2 -1.6 37.6 23rd 23.9 +0.8 20.8 2nd 102.6 63.9 high 161%
Central Arnhem Plateau 35.9 +0.2 37.8 31st 24.1 +2.0 21.6 2nd 43.6 32.3 high 135%
Channel Point 32.3 0.0 35.0 10th 26.1 +1.9 22.0 1st 155.4 71.8 high 216%
Charles Point 32.4   35.1 10th 26.7   22.6 2nd 55.8
Croker Island Airport 34.8 +1.2 36.1 10th 26.4 +1.9 24.6 20th 0.2
Darwin Airport 33.8 +0.5 36.4 30th 26.1 +1.2 21.7 9th 161.0 71.3 v high 226%
Delamere Weapons Range 38.4 +0.7 42.2 23rd 25.3 +1.4 21.1 12th 28.8 28.6 average 101%
Douglas River Research Farm 36.7 -1.2 39.5 22nd 23.9 +1.5 21.3 2nd 125.6 39.1 v high 321%
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip 33.7 +0.8 35.0 23rd 26.4 +1.0 22.4 2nd 53.4 61.8 average 86%
Jabiru Airport 38.1 +0.4 39.8 30th 25.7 +1.7 23.3 20th 71.2 40.5 high 176%
Kangaroo Flats (Defence) 35.4   38.3 30th 24.6   21.5 2nd 206.4
Knuckey Lagoon 34.5   36.4 10th 24.4   21.0 2nd 195.2
McCluer Island 32.0 +1.5 34.0 22nd 27.8 +1.6 24.6 2nd 5.8 7.3 high 79%
Middle Point 36.6 -0.8 39.0 30th 23.6 +1.5 20.1 2nd 85.8 47.9 high 179%
Mount Bundey North (Defence) 37.1   39.1 23rd 25.0   22.8 2nd 108.2
Mount Bundey South (Defence) 37.6   39.4 23rd 25.3   22.1 2nd 116.8
Murganella Airstrip 35.7 +1.2 38.8 21st 23.9 +1.9 21.7 31st 5.4 11.1 average 49%
Noonamah Airstrip 35.4   37.2 16th 24.9   21.2 2nd 121.2 72.4 high 167%
Oenpelli Airport 37.9 -0.4 40.0 30th 25.3 +2.5 23.7 17th 27.2 19.5 average 139%
Pirlangimpi Airport 34.5 +0.7 36.7 28th 24.6 +1.5 22.6 20th 227.4 85.6 v high 266%
Point Fawcett 32.7 -0.4 34.0 23rd 25.6 +2.1 22.4 2nd 206.0 69.3 v high 297%
Point Stuart 35.8 +1.3 37.8 10th 25.6 +1.5 21.5 2nd 144.4 56.0 high 258%
Port Keats Airport 34.6 +0.2 37.1 22nd 25.6 +1.5 21.0 2nd 29.6 44.0 average 67%
Tindal RAAF 37.9 +0.1 40.8 22nd 25.3 +1.3 21.5 22nd 47.8 33.3 high 144%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Cape Wessel 34.5 +1.2 36.1 24th 26.0 +0.9 24.1 28th 4.8 10.7 average 45%
Gove Airport 33.6 +1.7 36.0 29th 24.7 +3.1 23.0 19th 8.0 9.6 high 83%
Groote Eylandt Airport 35.7 +1.5 38.6 22nd 24.5 +3.5 20.8 2nd 7.8 27.2 low 29%
Maningrida Airport 34.0 +0.8 36.0 30th 25.3 +2.3 23.0 1st 17.8 11.4 high 156%
Milingimbi Airport 34.1 +1.0 36.1 23rd 25.9 +2.2 23.9 11th 12.6 7.1 high 177%
Warruwi Airport 33.5 +0.9 35.5 31st 26.8 +1.4 24.0 22nd 22.8 12.3 high 185%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola Airport 39.3 +2.3 42.5 31st 24.5 +3.1 21.3 2nd 8.4 13.4 average 63%
Bulman 39.4 +1.0 42.6 23rd 25.0 +3.1 21.3 2nd 31.2 19.9 high 157%
Centre Island 34.6 +1.5 37.7 31st 27.1 +2.1 24.3 1st 0 7.6 lowest 0%
Daly Waters Airstrip 38.8 +1.3 42.3 23rd 23.6 +2.6 16.3 11th 18.2 21.7 average 84%
McArthur River Mine Airport 39.5 +1.5 42.7 23rd 24.6 +3.3 20.4 11th 2.4 20.5 average 12%
Ngukurr Airport 39.9 +1.0 42.9 23rd 26.0 +3.3 21.5 1st 83.0 20.9 v high 397%
Victoria (district 14F)
Bradshaw 39.6 +0.6 42.9 23rd 26.5 +1.4 22.2 2nd 48.4 25.0 high 194%
Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) 40.0   43.0 23rd 26.6   22.2 2nd 31.2
Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) 39.0   41.6 16th 24.0   18.5 11th 21.8
Lajamanu Airport 37.4 -0.2 41.8 27th 22.9 +2.1 17.7 2nd 82.0 22.2 v high 369%
Victoria River Downs 39.8 +1.8 44.4 24th 25.5 +3.0 19.5 11th 37.6 19.2 high 196%
Barkly (district 15A)
Tennant Creek Airport 35.1 +0.1 40.1 23rd 21.7 -0.2 17.2 11th 66.4 19.5 v high 341%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 31.6 +0.4 39.4 12th 15.9 +1.1 6.4 14th 27.8 20.0 high 139%
Arltunga 31.5 +0.2 37.9 12th 15.7 +1.4 7.0 10th 21.0 21.7 average 97%
Curtin Springs 29.8 -2.1 38.5 22nd 14.8 +0.3 7.3 14th 58.2 18.3 v high 318%
Jervois 33.5 +0.1 40.6 30th 17.7 +2.0 10.0 11th 25.4 14.5 high 175%
Rabbit Flat 37.5 +0.1 43.5 23rd 20.3 +1.8 13.5 19th 17.8 21.9 average 81%
Territory Grape Farm 33.1 -0.4 39.4 26th 17.2 +1.4 11.2 10th 28.6 14.9 high 192%
Walungurru Airport 33.4 -2.7 40.5 22nd 19.2 -1.9 13.9 1st 15.6 14.7 average 106%
Watarrka     28.7 1st 15.7 -1.7 7.5 14th 35.1 24.3 average 144%
Yulara Airport 30.3 -2.2 38.9 22nd 15.0 -0.1 8.5 14th 66.0 22.8 high 289%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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 6 pm on Thursday 3 November 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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