Monday 2 March 2026 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in February 2026

Rainfall

  • Rainfall totals in February were above to very much above average for most of the Northern Territory, including highest on record for parts of the central southern Northern Territory.
  • Rainfall totals in February were below average for far northern parts of the Northern Territory.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged rainfall total in February was 239.1 mm, 95% above the 1961–1990 average, the third-wettest on record for all Februarys since 1900.
  • It was the wettest February in Northern Territory since 2000.
  • Several sites had their highest February daily rainfall on record.
  • Many sites had their highest total February rainfall on record.
  • Many sites had their highest total February rainfall for at least 20 years.

Temperature

  • Mean maximum temperatures in February were below to very much below average across most of the Northern Territory away from some northern regions, where February maximum temperatures were close to average.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 33.2 °C, 2.22 °C below the 1961–1990 average.
  • The Northern Territory had its lowest mean maximum temperature for February since 1993.
  • Victoria River Downs and Lajamanu Airport had their coolest February day (lowest daily maximum temperature) on record on the 3rd.
  • A few sites had their lowest February mean maximum temperature for at least 20 years.
  • Mean minimum temperatures in February were above to very much above average for most of the northern and southern Northern Territory.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 24.0 °C, 0.79 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
  • The Northern Territory had its lowest mean minimum temperature for February since 2023.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean temperature was 28.6 °C, 0.71 °C below the 1961–1990 average.

Events

  • Tropical low 21U brought heavy rainfall, showers and thunderstorms as it moved westward across the Northern Territory in early February.
  • Inland troughs and lows brought exceptional rainfall to central Australia during early to mid- February, with local totals exceeding 200 mm for parts of the Northern Territory.
  • For more details, visit the February national climate summary.

Darwin Airport

  • Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 387.4 mm, which is 104% of the long-term average of 372.2 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 31.2 °C, which is 0.3 °C below the long-term average of 31.5 °C.
  • The warmest day was 32.3 °C on the 8th, and the coolest day was on the 14th when the temperature reached 28.0 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.7 °C, which is 0.9 °C above the long-term average of 24.8 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 23.0 °C on the 2nd, and the warmest morning was on the 17th when the minimum temperature was 27.2 °C.

Alice Springs Airport

  • Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 188.4 mm, which is 463% of the long-term average of 40.7 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 32.8 °C, which is 2.5 °C below the long-term average of 35.3 °C.
  • The warmest day was 40.1 °C on the 1st, and the coolest day was on the 25th when the temperature reached 24.8 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 23.0 °C, which is 2.3 °C above the long-term average of 20.7 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 18.6 °C on the 13th, and the warmest morning was on the 1st when the minimum temperature was 27.9 °C.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in February 2026
Hottest day 42.8 °C at Walungurru Airport on the 1st
Warmest days on average 35.2 °C at Walungurru Airport
Coolest days on average 30.4 °C at Central Arnhem Plateau
Coldest day 22.9 °C at Curtin Springs on the 2nd
Coldest night 16.9 °C at Curtin Springs on the 3rd
Coolest nights on average 22.9 °C at Territory Grape Farm
Warmest nights on average 26.4 °C at Centre Island
26.4 °C at Croker Island Airport
Warmest night 30.5 °C at Walungurru Airport on the 1st
Warmest on average overall 30.0 °C at Walungurru Airport
30.0 °C at Ngukurr Airport
Coolest on average overall 26.9 °C at Central Arnhem Plateau
Wettest overall 591.4 mm at Awillaway Fly Creek
Wettest day 300.0 mm at Kurundi on the 22nd
Strongest wind gust 91.0 km/h at Centre Island on the 22nd

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 February daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
The Garden 106.6 on the 23rd 94.0 on 08 Feb 1976 73 44.2
Cattle Creek 144.2 on the 3rd 143.0 on 16 Feb 2001 38 144.1
Gilnockie 183.0 on the 2nd 151.0 on 18 Feb 2017 38 223.8
Upper Fergusson River 99.4 on the 13th 95.8 on 18 Feb 1997 28 239.3
Bradshaw 154.2 on the 2nd 123.6 on 19 Feb 2011 26 211.9


Record highest February total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
Undoolya 299.0 279.8 in 1976 100 40.7
The Garden 288.4 241.4 in 2000 72 44.2
Kurundi 569.6 383.7 in 2000 70 80.3
Jervois 291.0 285.0 in 1991 60 52.5
Mount Denison 443.2 397.7 in 1982 59 62.4
Allambi 293.8 278.4 in 1976 55 33.8
Warramunga 406.2 386.0 in 1993 54 114.2
Pine Hill 391.5 232.0 in 2000 44 63.2
Ross River 313.2 275.7 in 1997 42 66.6
Gemtree Park 261.8 216.6 in 1997 34 47.7
Rabbit Flat 255.2 229.6 in 1997 29 80.2
Walungurru Airport 179.4 116.8 in 2006 25 30.9


Highest February total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
February
Old Delamere 525.2 531.1 in 1967 187.8
Todd River 237.2 238.0 in 1982 35.5
Wandie Creek 441.2 466.8 in 1992 248.3
Territory Grape Farm 202.8 342.2 in 2000 56.3
Mount Skinner 127.1 371.6 in 2000 64.5
Newhaven 250.3 251.0 in 2000 56.0
Alice Springs Airport 188.4 241.6 in 2000 42.4
Cattle Creek 406.2 658.5 in 2001 151.0
Yulara Airport 130.8 135.2 in 2002 37.2
Lajamanu Airport 377.6 417.6 in 2004 146.0
Curtin Springs 83.4 96.0 in 2004 26.0

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



Record lowest February daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
Victoria River Downs 24.4 on the 3rd 25.0 on 04 Feb 2004 61 35.6
Lajamanu Airport 23.2 on the 3rd 23.9 on 08 Feb 2021 35 36.4


Lowest February mean maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
February
Jervois 34.1 33.9 in 1991 37.0
Yulara Airport 34.3 32.1 in 2002 37.2
Alice Springs Airport 32.8 32.7 in 2002 35.3
Curtin Springs 34.1 32.5 in 2002 36.7

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



Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for February 2026
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
February
2026		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
February
2026		 Mean for
February
2026		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
February
2026		 Total for
February
2026		 Average
for
February		 Rank of
February
2026		 Fraction of
February
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Airport 31.2 -1.3 34.3 10th 24.4 +0.5 22.4 1st 417.6 326.8 high 128%
Central Arnhem Plateau 30.4 -1.6 32.6 25th 23.4 +0.2 22.1 1st 357.6 258.4 average 138%
Channel Point 31.3 -0.3 32.4 18th 26.2 +1.0 23.9 2nd 329.2 384.4 average 86%
Charles Point 30.9 -0.7 32.3 26th 26.1 +0.4 24.2 14th 297.8 319.3 average 93%
Croker Island Airport 31.6 +0.1 33.5 8th 26.4 +0.5 24.2 2nd 189.4 274.4 low 69%
Darwin Airport 31.2 -0.3 32.3 8th 25.7 +0.9 23.0 2nd 387.4 372.2 average 104%
Delamere Weapons Range 32.4 -2.1 35.4 11th 24.5 +0.6 22.8 4th 293.4 223.2 average 132%
Douglas River Research Farm 32.3 -1.2 35.3 10th 24.4 +0.6 22.8 4th 422.2 280.3 high 151%
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip 31.7 +0.1 32.8 7th 25.9 +0.4 23.7 2nd 238.4 403.1 low 59%
East Point 31.1 32.4 17th 25.8 23.4 2nd 327.0
Jabiru Airport 33.0 -0.4 35.5 26th 25.3 +0.7 23.1 19th 350.2 351.8 average 100%
Kangaroo Flats (Defence) 32.3 35.2 10th 25.0 22.8 1st 424.2
Knuckey Lagoon 31.5 33.3 10th 25.4 23.0 2nd 352.6
Middle Point 32.4 -1.1 34.7 10th 24.8 +0.6 23.1 1st 247.4 291.4 average 85%
Mount Bundey North (Defence) 32.1 34.4 9th 24.6 22.8 2nd 325.0
Mount Bundey South (Defence) 32.6 35.4 9th 24.8 23.1 2nd
Murganella Airstrip 32.2 -0.4 33.6 26th 24.5 +0.2 23.7 24th 271.6 277.3 average 98%
Noonamah Airstrip 32.3 -0.9 34.8 8th 25.1 +0.4 23.1 1st 289.2 317.9 average 91%
Oenpelli Airport 32.1 -0.9 34.1 26th 25.4 +0.2 23.4 2nd 294.0 285.9 average 103%
Pirlangimpi Airport 31.5 -0.3 34.1 8th 25.2 +0.6 23.9 28th 320.6 370.9 average 86%
Point Stuart 31.9 -0.5 34.1 10th 25.9 +0.7 23.8 2nd 169.4 269.2 v low 63%
Port Keats Airport 31.6 -1.1 32.9 12th 25.3 +0.4 22.5 1st 507.2 308.4 high 164%
Tindal RAAF 33.1 -0.9 35.4 20th 24.6 +0.5 22.7 1st 267.8 234.1 high 114%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Gove Airport 31.9 34.0 27th 25.2 23.2 12th 305.8
Groote Eylandt Airport 32.7 -0.4 35.0 19th 25.9 +0.8 23.8 10th 301.2 234.5 average 128%
Maningrida Airport 31.9 -0.4 33.3 10th 25.2 +0.3 22.7 2nd 337.6 257.7 high 131%
Milingimbi Airport 32.3 -0.5 34.9 26th 25.3 0.0 23.8 12th 196.4 243.4 average 81%
Ngayawili 31.0 -0.5 32.0 10th 26.1 +0.4 23.7 27th 146.8 279.6 low 52%
Warruwi Airport 31.9 +0.3 33.5 18th 25.9 +0.5 24.6 1st 23.2 231.9 lowest 10%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola Airport 33.3 -0.9 36.3 10th 25.3 +0.7 22.8 18th 249.0 209.7 average 119%
Bulman 34.2 -0.5 36.3 19th 24.5 +0.3 23.6 9th 229.6 218.3 average 105%
Centre Island 32.6 -0.6 34.4 19th 26.4 -0.2 23.4 18th 354.2 281.8 average 126%
Daly Waters Airstrip 32.7 -2.3 34.9 12th 24.4 +0.9 23.2 19th 372.4 186.7 high 200%
McArthur River Mine Airport 34.1 -1.3 36.5 10th 25.1 +0.3 23.3 3rd 313.8 178.9 high 175%
Ngukurr Airport 34.6 -1.4 37.1 19th 25.4 +0.1 23.8 1st 188.8 169.1 average 112%
Victoria (district 14F)
Bradshaw 34.3 -1.0 37.1 19th 25.0 +0.1 23.2 1st 382.2 220.7 high 173%
Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) 34.1 36.1 19th 25.7 24.1 11th 191.6
Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) 33.3 35.8 12th 25.3 22.8 1st 310.2
Lajamanu Airport 33.3 -3.1 36.5 11th 24.2 +0.6 19.7 4th 377.6 142.4 high 265%
Victoria River Downs 33.5 -2.1 35.9 19th 25.1 +0.6 22.4 4th 246.8 162.2 high 152%
Barkly (district 15A)
Elliott 33.8 -2.7 36.3 19th 24.3 +0.4 22.4 2nd 360.9 156.0 high 231%
Tennant Creek Airport 32.6 -3.2 35.8 17th 23.5 -1.0 20.1 3rd 271.6 117.0 high 232%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 32.8 -2.5 40.1 1st 23.0 +2.3 18.6 13th 188.4 40.7 high 463%
Curtin Springs 34.1 -2.6 39.0 21st 23.5 +1.8 16.9 3rd 83.4 25.2 high 331%
Jervois 34.1 -2.9 42.6 1st 24.2 +2.0 21.1 14th 291.0 52.5 highest 554%
Rabbit Flat 35.1 -2.5 40.8 1st 24.0 +0.5 22.0 3rd 255.2 80.2 highest 318%
Territory Grape Farm 34.2 -2.3 41.2 1st 22.9 +1.3 18.3 3rd 202.8 52.4 high 387%
Walungurru Airport 35.2 -3.8 42.8 1st 24.8 -1.3 21.9 3rd 179.4 30.9 highest 581%
Watarrka 33.8 -3.2 40.5 21st 21.2 -1.7 17.0 3rd 52.8 37.9 high 139%
Yulara Airport 34.3 -2.9 39.6 20th 23.4 +1.2 17.0 3rd 130.8 34.6 high 378%

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 Monday 2 March 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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