Monday, 1 April 2024 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0
Northern Territory in March 2024
Rainfall
- Across the NT, it was the second-wettest March on record. The average rainfall was 259.85 mm, 155.5% above the 1961–1990 March average.
- Rainfall was very much above average across most of the NT and the highest on record in the west of the NT.
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Megan brought heavy rainfall as it tracked inland as a tropical low mid-month and many sites had their highest March daily rainfall on record.
- The McArthur River at Borroloola also reached major flood levels.
- Many sites had their highest total March rainfall on record.
- Multiple sites had their highest total March rainfall for at least 20 years.
Temperature
- The mean maximum temperature across the NT was 1.13° C below the long-term average (based on 1961–1990), the coolest since 2012.
- Maximum temperatures were below to very much below average across the central NT and close to average across the north and south of the NT.
- A few sites had their coldest March day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.
- Elliott recorded its lowest March mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years.
- The mean minimum temperature across the NT was 1.67° C above the long-term average (based on 1961–1990), and the equal third warmest on record.
- Minimum temperatures were above average across almost all of the NT and the highest on record across the southern NT and areas of the Daly and Gregory districts.
- Walungurru Airport recorded its lowest March temperature on record.
- Batchelor Airport and Middle Point had their warmest March night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record on the 18th.
- Many sites had their highest March mean daily minimum temperature on record.
- Daly Water Airstrip and Alice Springs Airport had their highest March mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.
- The mean temperature across the NT was 0.27° C below the long-term average (based on 1961–1990).
- Walungurru Airport recorded its lowest March mean temperature on record.
Darwin Airport
- Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 384.8 mm, which is 124% of the long-term average of 309.8 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 32.2 °C, which is 0.2 °C above the long-term average of 32.0 °C.
- The warmest day was 34.6 °C on the 29th, and the coolest day was on the 14th when the temperature reached 29.6 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.9 °C, which is 1.3 °C above the long-term average of 24.6 °C.
- The coldest morning was 23.9 °C on the 21st, and the warmest morning was on the 19th when the minimum temperature was 28.6 °C.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in March 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 42.5 °C at Curtin Springs on the 18th |
| Warmest days on average |
35.0 °C at Bradshaw 35.0 °C at Victoria River Downs |
| Coolest days on average | 31.0 °C at Arltunga |
| Coldest day | 15.8 °C at Watarrka on the 23rd |
| Coldest night | 11.9 °C at Watarrka on the 24th |
| Coolest nights on average | 19.8 °C at Arltunga |
| Warmest nights on average | 27.2 °C at McCluer Island |
| Warmest night | 29.1 °C at Centre Island on the 4th |
| Warmest on average overall |
30.2 °C at Bradshaw 30.2 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) |
| Coolest on average overall | 25.3 °C at Arltunga |
| Wettest overall | 902.2 mm at Groote Eylandt Airport |
| Wettest day | 431.0 mm at Groote Eylandt Airport on the 17th |
| Strongest wind gust | 170 km/h at Centre Island on the 18th |
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 |
||||
| Anthony Lagoon | 249.0 | on the 19th | 143.0 | on the 9th in 1957 | 105 | |
| Kidman Springs | 134.2 | on the 6th | 113.0 | on the 10th in 1976 | 55 | |
| McArthur River Mine Airport | 274.4 | on the 19th | 124.1 | on the 28th in 1985 | 55 | |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 103.0 | on the 20th | 96.4 | on the 25th in 2007 | 55 | |
| Pine Hill | 85.0 | on the 23rd | 57.2 | on the 23rd in 1989 | 35 | |
| Birrindudu | 112.0 | on the 28th | 108.0 | on the 17th in 2012 | 32 | |
| Borroloola Airport | 256.6 | on the 19th | 153.2 | on the 27th in 2006 | 30 | |
| Cooinda Airstrip | 132.0 | on the 15th | 104.0 | on the 31st in 2013 | 28 | |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 175.6 | on the 11th | 105.0 | on the 7th in 2000 | 26 | |
| Groote Eylandt Airport | 431.0 | on the 17th | 313.0 | on the 2nd in 2004 | 25 | |
| Port Keats Airport | 100.4 | on the 20th | 95.0 | on the 10th in 2001 | 24 | |
| Point Stuart | 140.6 | on the 15th | 110.0 | on the 18th in 2004 | 22 | |
| Record highest March total rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Anthony Lagoon | 367.4 | 345.6 | in 1974 | 111 | 76.0 |
| The Garden | 287.0 | 264.9 | in 1972 | 70 | 37.9 |
| Lajamanu Airport | 481.2 | 389.4 | in 1965 | 62 | 87.6 |
| Newhaven | 316.0 | 299.0 | in 2001 | 62 | 49.3 |
| Daly Waters Airstrip | 353.8 | 345.8 | in 1944 | 55 | 110.0 |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 264.2 | 237.6 | in 2001 | 54 | 59.3 |
| Montejinni | 380.2 | 373.2 | in 1976 | 48 | 98.0 |
| Suplejack | 430.4 | 313.2 | in 1982 | 43 | 72.1 |
| Territory Grape Farm | 232.8 | 109.2 | in 2011 | 36 | 28.4 |
| The Granites | 285.7 | 270.7 | in 2001 | 35 | 56.9 |
| Wandie Creek | 616.4 | 495.2 | in 1989 | 33 | 172.8 |
| Gemtree Park | 186.9 | 145.1 | in 2011 | 32 | 29.0 |
| Birrindudu | 594.0 | 330.4 | in 2011 | 31 | 87.9 |
| Borroloola Airport | 525.8 | 499.8 | in 2006 | 30 | 162.2 |
| Rabbit Flat | 498.8 | 381.8 | in 2011 | 28 | 80.6 |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 458.4 | 334.8 | in 2006 | 26 | 149.3 |
| Groote Eylandt Airport | 902.2 | 570.0 | in 2004 | 25 | 290.8 |
| Foelsche Headland | 397.8 | 379.4 | in 2013 | 21 | 164.1 |
| Upper Victoria River | 294.6 | 278.4 | in 2011 | 21 | 100.2 |
| Wongalara | 305.7 | 287.4 | in 2000 | 20 | 158.1 |
| Highest March total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for March |
|||
| Arltunga | 292.2 | 339.5 | in 1910* | 41.1 | |
| Victoria River Downs | 354.4 | 397.8 | in 1976* | 109.3 | |
| Alice Springs Airport | 222.6 | 356.8 | in 1983 | 33.3 | |
| Undoolya | 187.1 | 292.4 | in 1983* | 32.6 | |
| Indiana | 166.0 | 293.4 | in 1983* | 47.0 | |
| Centre Island | 870.8 | 886.4 | in 1989 | 248.0 | |
| Pine Hill | 224.4 | 236.7 | in 1976* | 38.4 | |
| Legune | 554.4 | 723.2 | in 2000* | 197.5 | |
| Mount Denison | 344.2 | 361.2 | in 2001 | 47.2 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
| Record lowest March daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
| Watarrka | 15.8 | on the 23rd | 16.1 | on the 21st in 2001 | 29 | 35.0 |
| Territory Grape Farm | 18.8 | on the 22nd | 20.1 | on the 14th in 2021 | 28 | 34.8 |
| Arltunga | 16.3 | on the 22nd | 17.7 | on the 24th in 2007 | 23 | 32.6 |
| Walungurru Airport | 17.7 | on the 23rd | 19.2 | on the 20th in 2021 | 22 | 36.9 |
| Lowest March mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for March |
|||
| Elliott | 32.5 | 32.2 | in 1984* | 35.9 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported
| Record highest March daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
| Batchelor Airport | 26.9 | on the 18th | 26.8 | on the 12th in 2005 | 27 | 23.5 |
| Middle Point | 27.7 | on the 18th | 27.2 | on the 6th in 2022 | 23 | 24.0 |
| Record lowest March temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
| Walungurru Airport | 13.7 | on the 24th | 16.0 | on the 30th in 2007 | 22 | 24.6 |
| Record highest March mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Elliott | 24.8 | 24.6 | in 2022 | 43 | 22.5 |
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 25.5 | 25.3 | in 2016 | 41 | 24.2 |
| Tindal RAAF | 24.8 | 24.6 | in 2016 | 36 | 23.2 |
| Douglas River Research Farm | 25.0 | 24.4 | in 2016 | 33 | 23.2 |
| Channel Point | 26.3 | 26.1 | in 2016 | 29 | 24.8 |
| Batchelor Airport | 24.8 | 24.5 | in 2016 | 26 | 23.5 |
| Point Fawcett | 26.4 | 26.0 | in 2016 | 26 | 25.0 |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 24.7 | 24.6 | in 2016 | 25 | 23.4 |
| Groote Eylandt Airport | 25.4 | 25.1 | in 2016 | 24 | 23.9 |
| Middle Point | 25.5 | 24.8 | in 2016 | 22 | 24.0 |
| Port Keats Airport | 25.7 | 25.5 | in 2016 | 22 | 24.3 |
| Maningrida Airport | 25.5 | 25.3 | in 2016 | 20 | 24.6 |
| Highest March mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Average for March |
|||
| Daly Waters Airstrip | 24.2 | =24.2 | in 1959* | 22.5 | |
| Alice Springs Airport | 20.8 | 20.9 | in 1999 | 17.6 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
| Record lowest March mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Walungurru Airport | 28.0 | = 28.0 | in 2012 | 21 | 30.7 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for March 2024 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for March 2024 |
Diff from average |
Highest for March 2024 |
Mean for March 2024 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for March 2024 |
Total for March 2024 |
Average for March |
Rank of March 2024 |
Fraction of March average |
|||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Airport | 32.7 | -0.5 | 34.7 | 28th | 24.8 | +1.3 | 22.8 | 7th | 272.2 | 225.7 | average | 121% |
| Central Arnhem Plateau | 31.6 | -0.8 | 34.2 | 26th | 23.7 | +0.7 | 21.6 | 17th | 478.0 | 208.7 | high | 229% |
| Channel Point | 31.8 | -0.3 | 34.5 | 28th | 26.3 | +1.5 | 24.0 | 11th | 448.0 | 321.3 | high | 139% |
| Charles Point | 31.7 | 33.9 | 29th | 26.1 | 23.4 | 8th | 463.4 | 222.8 | v high | 208% | ||
| Croker Island Airport | 31.6 | -0.4 | 33.1 | 28th | 26.4 | +0.6 | 24.1 | 31st | 452.8 | 269.6 | high | 168% |
| Darwin Airport | 32.2 | +0.2 | 34.6 | 29th | 25.9 | +1.3 | 23.9 | 21st | 384.8 | 309.8 | high | 124% |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 33.4 | -1.4 | 35.3 | 18th | 24.7 | +1.3 | 22.6 | 28th | 458.4 | 149.3 | highest | 307% |
| Douglas River Research Farm | 33.9 | -0.2 | 35.7 | 26th | 25.0 | +1.8 | 23.2 | 20th | 315.8 | 223.8 | high | 141% |
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 32.3 | +0.2 | 34.1 | 31st | 26.1 | +0.8 | 23.4 | 8th | 410.2 | 296.2 | high | 138% |
| East Point | 31.9 | 33.9 | 28th | 26.2 | 24.6 | 12th | 297.6 | |||||
| Jabiru Airport | 33.7 | -0.1 | 36.2 | 10th | 25.4 | +0.9 | 23.2 | 15th | 504.6 | 301.5 | v high | 167% |
| Kangaroo Flats (Defence) | 33.5 | 36.1 | 28th | 25.6 | 23.9 | 28th | 302.2 | |||||
| Knuckey Lagoon | 32.6 | 34.7 | 28th | 25.6 | 23.9 | 12th | 509.4 | |||||
| McCluer Island | 31.4 | +0.3 | 32.9 | 9th | 27.2 | +1.0 | 24.8 | 15th | 187.8 | 211.0 | average | 89% |
| Middle Point | 33.0 | -0.9 | 35.5 | 26th | 25.5 | +1.5 | 24.1 | 12th | 350.4 | 244.8 | high | 143% |
| Mount Bundey North (Defence) | 34.0 | 36.1 | 10th | 24.9 | 22.9 | 20th | 0.6 | |||||
| Mount Bundey South (Defence) | 34.3 | 36.4 | 4th | 25.0 | 23.1 | 20th | 461.0 | |||||
| Murganella Airstrip | 32.5 | -0.4 | 35.1 | 26th | 25.2 | +1.2 | 23.5 | 15th | 612.6 | |||
| Noonamah Airstrip | 33.3 | -1.1 | 35.8 | 10th | 25.7 | +1.1 | 24.0 | 12th | 338.8 | 217.2 | high | 156% |
| Oenpelli Airport | 33.0 | -0.9 | 35.8 | 26th | 25.9 | +0.9 | 23.9 | 15th | 450.6 | 238.0 | v high | 189% |
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 32.5 | +0.3 | 34.7 | 9th | 25.5 | +1.3 | 23.2 | 8th | 290.4 | 345.9 | average | 84% |
| Point Fawcett | 31.8 | -0.1 | 33.2 | 28th | 26.4 | +1.4 | 23.7 | 8th | 395.2 | 246.7 | high | 160% |
| Point Stuart | 32.3 | -0.1 | 34.3 | 26th | 26.1 | +1.0 | 24.2 | 12th | 343.8 | 214.5 | high | 160% |
| Port Keats Airport | 32.6 | -1.0 | 35.7 | 30th | 25.7 | +1.4 | 22.5 | 20th | 308.6 | 205.1 | high | 150% |
| Tindal RAAF | 34.3 | -0.2 | 36.1 | 26th | 24.8 | +1.6 | 23.2 | 20th | 208.0 | 157.3 | average | 132% |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Wessel | 32.6 | +0.2 | 35.1 | 27th | 26.5 | +0.6 | 24.7 | 13th | 259.0 | 217.3 | average | 119% |
| Gove Airport | 31.3 | 33.3 | 26th | 25.4 | 23.7 | 16th | 353.2 | |||||
| Groote Eylandt Airport | 32.1 | -0.7 | 34.2 | 19th | 25.4 | +1.5 | 24.3 | 13th | 902.2 | 290.8 | highest | 310% |
| Maningrida Airport | 32.1 | -0.2 | 34.4 | 19th | 25.5 | +0.9 | 22.6 | 15th | 338.6 | 283.4 | average | 119% |
| Milingimbi Airport | 35.2 | 3rd | 25.7 | +0.7 | 22.6 | 16th | 476.8 | 260.8 | high | 183% | ||
| Warruwi Airport | 32.1 | +0.5 | 34.1 | 26th | 26.3 | +1.0 | 23.1 | 15th | 290.2 | 232.7 | average | 125% |
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Bulman | 33.9 | -0.9 | 37.2 | 25th | 24.6 | +1.2 | 22.7 | 15th | 526.4 | 223.3 | v high | 236% |
| Centre Island | 32.0 | -1.1 | 34.3 | 4th | 26.7 | +0.2 | 25.0 | 11th | 870.8 | 248.0 | v high | 351% |
| Daly Waters Airstrip | 33.3 | -1.6 | 36.0 | 16th | 24.2 | +1.7 | 22.5 | 16th | 353.8 | 110.0 | highest | 322% |
| Ngukurr Airport | 33.7 | -2.6 | 36.2 | 20th | 25.6 | +1.1 | 23.9 | 17th | 294.2 | 148.6 | high | 198% |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Bradshaw | 35.0 | -1.1 | 37.6 | 18th | 25.3 | +0.8 | 23.0 | 21st | 409.6 | 144.4 | v high | 284% |
| Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) | 34.8 | 38.1 | 18th | 25.6 | 22.9 | 21st | 254.0 | |||||
| Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) | 34.6 | 37.6 | 18th | 25.4 | 23.9 | 22nd | 177.0 | |||||
| Lajamanu Airport | 32.9 | -2.6 | 38.3 | 17th | 23.9 | +1.6 | 21.0 | 21st | 481.2 | 87.6 | highest | 549% |
| Victoria River Downs | 35.0 | -0.4 | 38.8 | 18th | 25.2 | +1.9 | 22.5 | 21st | 354.4 | 109.3 | v high | 324% |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Elliott | 32.5 | -3.4 | 35.8 | 16th | 24.8 | +2.3 | 22.5 | 20th | ||||
| Tennant Creek Airport | 31.9 | -2.8 | 36.6 | 16th | 22.9 | -0.5 | 19.3 | 23rd | 264.2 | 59.3 | highest | 446% |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 31.9 | -1.0 | 40.8 | 17th | 20.8 | +3.2 | 13.2 | 24th | 222.6 | 33.3 | v high | 668% |
| Arltunga | 31.0 | -1.6 | 39.1 | 17th | 19.8 | +1.3 | 13.5 | 24th | 292.2 | 41.1 | v high | 711% |
| Jervois | 34.3 | -0.5 | 40.5 | 16th | 22.8 | +3.3 | 16.6 | 24th | 112.6 | 36.4 | v high | 309% |
| Rabbit Flat | 32.5 | -4.3 | 39.7 | 17th | 22.9 | +1.2 | 18.2 | 24th | 498.8 | 80.6 | highest | 619% |
| Territory Grape Farm | 31.7 | -3.1 | 38.5 | 18th | 21.0 | +1.4 | 15.1 | 24th | 232.8 | 28.4 | highest | 820% |
| Walungurru Airport | 33.3 | -3.6 | 41.8 | 18th | 22.7 | -1.9 | 13.7 | 24th | 193.2 | 45.2 | v high | 427% |
| Watarrka | 33.0 | -2.0 | 42.0 | 18th | 21.2 | +0.5 | 11.9 | 24th | 113.0 | 33.5 | high | 337% |
| Yulara Airport | 33.5 | -1.2 | 41.8 | 18th | 21.9 | +2.4 | 13.9 | 24th | 65.8 | 30.9 | high | 213% |
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.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 4 pm on Monday 1 April 2024. 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.
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
