Tuesday 3 November 2026 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in October 2026

Rainfall

Temperature

  • Mean maximum temperatures in October were above to very much above average for most of the Territory.
  • Northern Territory's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 36.0 °C, 1.44°C above the 1961–1990 average.
  • Ngayawili had its lowest October mean maximum temperature for since 2006.
  • Mean minimum temperatures in October were above to very much above average for most of the Territory and the highest on record for the far south-east.
  • Northern Territory's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 22.7 °C, 2.61 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the third-warmest on record for all Octobers since 1910.
  • Lajamanu Airport had its highest October mean minimum temperature on record.
  • Rabbit Flat had its highest October mean minimum temperature since 2005.
  • Northern Territory's area-averaged mean temperature was 29.4 °C, 2.03 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the eight-warmest on record for all Octobers since 1910.
  • Rabbit Flat had its highest October mean temperature since 2005.

Events

  • A severe thunderstorm moved through Alice Springs in the afternoon on 12 October, delivering heavy rain, flash flooding, large accumulations of small hail and destructive winds.
  • For more details, visit the October national climate summary.

Darwin Airport

  • Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 31.8 mm, which is 46% of the long-term average of 69.7 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 33.9 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 33.4 °C.
  • The warmest day was 35.5 °C on the 11th, and the coolest day was on the 4th when the temperature reached 32.5 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.5 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 25.0 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 23.1 °C on the 1st, and the warmest morning was on the 24th when the minimum temperature was 27.9 °C.

Alice Springs Airport

  • Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 27.8 mm, which is 142% of the long-term average of 19.6 mm.
  • NOTE: Due to malfunction of the TBRG at Alice Springs Airport, daily rainfall totals on 28 and 29 October were not measured; consequently the total rainfall for October at this station is likely higher than 27.8 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 32.5 °C, which is 1.2 °C above the long-term average of 31.3 °C.
  • The warmest day was 39.2 °C on the 20th, and the coolest day was on the 13th when the temperature reached 23.6 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 17.4 °C, which is 2.6 °C above the long-term average of 14.8 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 12.4 °C on the 15th, and the warmest morning was on the 9th when the minimum temperature was 24.8 °C.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in October 2026
Hottest day 42.4 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 18th
Warmest days on average 39.5 °C at Ngukurr Airport
Coolest days on average 29.8 °C at McCluer Island
Coldest day 18.8 °C at Yulara Airport on the 3rd
Coldest night 12.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 15th
Coolest nights on average 17.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Warmest nights on average 26.4 °C at McCluer Island
Warmest night 28.8 °C at Victoria River Downs on the 13th
Warmest on average overall 32.1 °C at Bradshaw
Coolest on average overall 24.9 °C at Alice Springs Airport
24.9 °C at Yulara Airport
Wettest overall 183.6 mm at Snowdrop Creek
Wettest day 76.8 mm at Upper Fergusson River on the 25th
Strongest wind gust 102.0 km/h at Alice Springs Airport on the 28th

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest October daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
Pine Hill 40.0 on the 27th 33.0 on 30 Oct 1998 41 20.0
Territory Grape Farm 34.4 on the 29th 25.0 on 14 Oct 2005 40 14.9
Upper Fergusson River 76.8 on the 25th 59.6 on 01 Oct 2022 25 30.4
Snowdrop Creek 73.4 on the 28th 43.6 on 31 Oct 2024 23 19.2


Record highest October total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
Hermannsburg 97.6 94.6 in 2010 116 17.7
Undoolya 119.4 89.4 in 1916 99 19.3
Pine Hill 131.5 84.0 in 2005 40 20.0
Territory Grape Farm 99.4 56.8 in 2001 38 14.0
Port Keats Airport 150.2 143.2 in 2013 26 44.5
Snowdrop Creek 183.6 71.4 in 2011 22 19.2


Highest October total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
October
Warramunga 64.7 106.6 in 2005 19.6
Tennant Creek Airport 95.8 107.2 in 2005 20.4
Elliott 45.0 95.5 in 2005 20.7

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported



Lowest October mean maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
October
Ngayawili 32.4 32.0 in 2006 32.9

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent lower values have gone unreported



Record highest October mean minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
Territory Grape Farm 18.6 =18.6 in 2025 35 15.9
Lajamanu Airport 24.2 24.1 in 2025 34 20.9


Highest October mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
October
Rabbit Flat 22.5 23.2 in 2005 18.5
Alice Springs Airport 17.4 =17.4 in 2006 14.8

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported



Highest October mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
October
Rabbit Flat 30.6 31.2 in 2005 28.0

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported



Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for October 2026
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
October
2026		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
October
2026		 Mean for
October
2026		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
October
2026		 Total for
October
2026		 Average
for
October		 Rank of
October
2026		 Fraction of
October
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Airport 36.4 -0.4 39.1 12th 23.7 +0.5 21.8 3rd 123.2 64.6 high 191%
Central Arnhem Plateau 36.2 +0.4 38.1 12th 22.9 +0.7 19.0 4th 11.4 34.2 average 33%
Charles Point 31.7 -0.3 33.1 31st 26.3 +0.2 23.2 4th 58.8 59.3 average 99%
Croker Island Airport 33.1 -0.7 35.1 31st 24.2 -0.4 21.7 10th 0.0 9.5 lowest 0%
Darwin Airport 33.9 +0.5 35.5 11th 25.5 +0.5 23.1 1st 31.8 69.7 average 46%
Delamere Weapons Range 37.8 0.0 39.8 22nd 24.7 +0.7 20.5 4th 33.2 28.6 average 116%
Douglas River Research Farm 38.1 +0.2 40.8 9th 23.8 +1.3 21.7 4th 46.6 41.9 average 111%
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip 33.2 +0.2 35.0 29th 25.1 -0.3 21.4 10th 52.6 61.6 average 85%
East Point 33.1 34.8 11th 25.9 23.3 10th 24.4
Jabiru Airport 38.6 +0.8 40.9 12th 24.5 +0.5 21.1 4th 6.8 39.7 average 17%
Kangaroo Flats (Defence) 36.5 38.7 12th 24.7 22.6 1st 81.4
Knuckey Lagoon 34.5 36.6 16th 23.6 21.1 10th 27.4
McCluer Island 29.8 -0.8 31.9 31st 26.4 0.0 24.1 7th 0.0 7.1 lowest 0%
Middle Point 37.2 -0.2 39.0 22nd 22.8 +0.5 19.6 5th 41.6 47.3 average 88%
Mount Bundey North (Defence) 38.0 40.0 12th 24.9 22.6 4th 23.8
Mount Bundey South (Defence) 38.2 40.5 12th 25.0 22.1 4th 21.0
Murganella Airstrip 33.9 -0.7 36.4 28th 22.0 -0.1 17.5 10th 3.6 11.2 average 32%
Noonamah Airstrip 36.1 -0.6 38.6 12th 24.3 +0.3 22.1 4th 128.4 61.6 high 208%
Oenpelli Airport 38.6 +0.3 40.3 31st 23.5 +0.3 19.7 11th 7.6 21.8 average 35%
Pirlangimpi Airport 34.1 +0.2 36.4 21st 23.5 +0.4 21.2 11th 35.8 83.6 average 43%
Point Stuart 34.4 -0.3 36.1 21st 24.9 +0.6 21.9 4th 10.0 51.6 average 19%
Port Keats Airport 33.4 -1.1 35.1 14th 24.8 +0.6 22.2 3rd 150.2 44.5 highest 338%
Tindal RAAF 37.6 -0.3 40.0 12th 25.0 +1.0 19.9 4th 69.2 33.4 high 207%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Gove Airport 31.5 33.9 30th 21.3 18.9 7th 0.4
Groote Eylandt Airport 34.1 -0.2 36.6 27th 21.4 +0.2 17.3 3rd 9.4 26.0 low 36%
Maningrida Airport 32.4 -0.9 33.9 31st 23.5 +0.3 21.0 4th 7.4 11.0 average 67%
Milingimbi Airport 32.6 -0.6 34.5 30th 23.8 0.0 21.4 3rd 0.2 9.6 low 2%
Ngayawili 32.4 -0.5 34.2 15th 22.0 -0.8 19.6 4th 0.4 9.1 average 4%
Warruwi Airport 32.2 -0.4 34.7 28th 25.2 -0.2 22.4 10th 0.0 12.2 lowest 0%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola Airport 36.8 -0.4 39.0 31st 23.2 +1.7 17.8 2nd 6.6 13.4 average 49%
Bulman 38.8 +0.2 40.8 26th 22.6 +0.6 17.5 4th 7.0 18.8 average 37%
Centre Island 33.2 0.0 36.2 27th 25.8 +0.7 22.7 3rd 0.2 7.4 average 3%
Daly Waters Airstrip 38.6 +1.0 40.5 19th 21.7 +0.7 14.3 4th 5.4 21.3 average 25%
McArthur River Mine Airport 38.4 +0.3 40.3 30th 23.1 +1.7 16.8 2nd 20.6 20.9 high 99%
Ngukurr Airport 39.5 +0.4 41.7 31st 23.8 +0.7 18.9 4th 4.2 17.6 average 24%
Victoria (district 14F)
Bradshaw 38.9 -0.2 40.7 13th 25.3 +0.2 21.0 18th 60.2 28.5 high 211%
Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) 38.8 40.2 14th 25.2 23.0 4th 76.2
Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) 38.4 40.0 12th 24.3 21.0 2nd 53.4
Lajamanu Airport 38.6 +0.9 41.6 20th 24.2 +3.3 19.7 3rd 20.8 21.3 average 98%
Victoria River Downs 39.2 +1.1 41.3 13th 24.8 +2.3 20.6 3rd 25.4 19.4 high 131%
Barkly (district 15A)
Elliott 38.5 +0.4 41.2 19th 23.9 +2.7 20.8 15th 45.0 20.3 high 222%
Tennant Creek Airport 36.0 +0.9 39.8 20th 23.2 +1.3 20.3 30th 95.8 19.0 high 504%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 32.5 +1.2 39.2 20th 17.4 +2.6 12.4 15th 27.8 19.6 high 142%
Arltunga 33.7 +2.3 34.6 11th 17.7 +3.6 17.0 31st 57.1 21.3 high 268%
Curtin Springs 31.3 -0.7 39.6 19th 17.1 +2.5 12.8 10th 73.3 17.9 high 410%
Jervois 34.8 +1.3 41.0 21st 18.8 +3.0 14.8 17th 34.6 13.9 high 249%
Rabbit Flat 38.8 +1.3 42.4 18th 22.5 +4.0 20.1 26th 25.2 20.9 average 121%
Territory Grape Farm 34.3 +0.6 38.8 24th 18.6 +2.7 14.0 1st 99.4 14.0 highest 710%
Walungurru Airport 36.5 +0.4 42.1 19th 21.4 +0.2 16.0 4th 38.8 14.6 high 266%
Watarrka 32.5 -0.8 39.5 20th 17.0 -0.5 17.0 2nd 67.0 23.1 high 290%
Yulara Airport 32.0 -0.6 40.0 19th 17.7 +2.4 13.3 10th 87.6 22.0 high 398%

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 on Tuesday 3 November 2026. 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, excluding the current year. The length of record can vary widely from site to site. Averages are not shown for sites with fewer 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.

Creative Commons By Attribution logo Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

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