Tuesday 1 April 2025 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0
Northern Territory in March 2025
Rainfall
- Rainfall totals in March were above to very much above average for eastern and central Northern Territory and coastal regions of the Top End.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged rainfall total in March was 110.8 mm, 9% above the 1961–1990 average.
- It was the driest March in Northern Territory since 2023.
- Dum In Mirrie Airstrip recorded its highest total March rainfall on record.
- Warruwi Airport recorded its highest total March rainfall for at least 20 years.
Temperature
- Mean maximum temperatures in March were above to very much above average across most of the Northern Territory.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 36.0 °C, 2.11 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the tenth-warmest on record for all Marches since 1910.
- The Northern Territory had its lowest mean maximum temperature for March since 2023.
- Mean minimum temperatures in March were above to very much above average across the Northern Territory, and the highest on record for parts of southern and eastern Northern Territory.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 24.1 °C, 2.33 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the warmest on record for all Marches since 1910.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean temperature was 30.0 °C, 2.22 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the third-warmest on record for all Marches since 1910.
- Many sites had their hottest March day (highest daily maximum temperature) on record.
- Curtin Springs and Yulara Airport had their warmest March night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
- Several sites had their highest March mean minimum temperature on record.
- Jervois recorded its highest March mean temperature on record.
- Alice Springs Airport recorded its highest March mean temperature for at least 20 years.
Events
- Heatwave conditions impacted the Northern Territory from late February to mid-March.
- Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms spread across the Northern Territory in late March.
- For more details, visit the March national climate summary.
Darwin Airport
- Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 359.2 mm, which is 116% of the long-term average of 310.0 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 32.7 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 32.0 °C.
- The warmest day was 34.7 °C on the 12th, and the coolest day was on the 26th when the temperature reached 29.9 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.3 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 24.6 °C.
- The coldest morning was 22.5 °C on the 15th, and the warmest morning was on the 6th when the minimum temperature was 27.3 °C.
Alice Springs Airport
- Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 19.6 mm, which is 59% of the long-term average of 33.3 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 35.1 °C, which is 2.2 °C above the long-term average of 32.9 °C.
- The warmest day was 44.5 °C on the 1st, and the coolest day was on the 31st when the temperature reached 18.5 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 21.2 °C, which is 3.6 °C above the long-term average of 17.6 °C.
- The coldest morning was 17.4 °C on the 25th, and the warmest morning was on the 10th when the minimum temperature was 27.3 °C.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in March 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
45.7 °C at Curtin Springs on the 1st |
| Warmest days on average |
39.4 °C at Rabbit Flat |
| Coolest days on average |
31.7 °C at McCluer Island |
| Coldest day |
18.4 °C at Watarrka on the 31st |
| Coldest night |
17.0 °C at Walungurru Airport on the 31st |
| Coolest nights on average |
21.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Warmest nights on average |
27.1 °C at McCluer Island |
| Warmest night |
31.4 °C at Walungurru Airport on the 3rd |
| Warmest on average overall |
31.6 °C at Rabbit Flat |
| Coolest on average overall |
28.2 °C at Central Arnhem Plateau 28.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Wettest overall |
601.2 mm at Dum In Mirrie Airstrip |
| Wettest day |
140.0 mm at Wagait Beach on the 26th |
| Strongest wind gust |
91.0 km/h at Lajamanu Airport on the 12th |
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
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record highest March total rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 601.2 | 548.6 | in 2004 | 27 | 307.5 |
| Highest March total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for March |
|||
| Warruwi Airport | 483.6 | 498.0 | in 2004 | 235.1 | |
note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported
| Record highest March temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
| Alice Springs Airport | 44.5 | on the 1st | 42.7 | on 11 Mar 2019 | 84 | 32.9 |
| Curtin Springs | 45.7 | on the 1st | 45.0 | on 11 Mar 2019 | 61 | 34.1 |
| Jervois | 45.5 | on the 2nd | 44.4 | on 12 Mar 2019 | 57 | 34.8 |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 42.9 | on the 3rd | 42.5 | on 12 Mar 2019 | 56 | 34.6 |
| Yulara Airport | 45.3 | on the 1st | 44.8 | on 11 Mar 2019 | 38 | 34.7 |
| Channel Point | 35.2 | on the 4th | 35.0 | on 27 Mar 2020 | 31 | 32.1 |
| Territory Grape Farm | 43.8 | on the 2nd | 43.5 | on 12 Mar 2019 | 30 | 34.6 |
| Watarrka | 44.0 | on the 1st | =44.0 | on 11 Mar 2019 | 30 | 35.0 |
| Rabbit Flat | 44.9 | on the 2nd | 43.8 | on 12 Mar 2019 | 29 | 36.6 |
| Bradshaw | 41.6 | on the 6th | 41.5 | on 09 Mar 2019 | 25 | 36.1 |
| Walungurru Airport | 45.1 | on the 2nd | 44.4 | on 03 Mar 2016 | 23 | 36.7 |
| Record highest March daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
| Curtin Springs | 30.9 | on the 10th | 28.2 | on 12 Mar 2019 | 61 | 18.8 |
| Yulara Airport | 30.3 | on the 10th | 29.9 | on 04 Mar 2021 | 38 | 19.6 |
| Record highest March mean minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Alice Springs Airport | 21.2 | 20.9 | in 1999 | 84 | 17.6 |
| Yulara Airport | 23.4 | 22.4 | in 1999 | 38 | 19.6 |
| Lajamanu Airport | 24.6 | =24.6 | in 2016 | 33 | 22.3 |
| Territory Grape Farm | 22.0 | 21.8 | in 1999 | 29 | 19.7 |
| Record highest March mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Jervois | 30.1 | 29.8 | in 1999 | 57 | 27.2 |
| Highest March mean temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Average for March |
|||
| Alice Springs Airport | 28.2 | 28.4 | in 1999 | 25.2 | |
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 March 2025 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for March 2025 |
Diff from average |
Highest for March 2025 |
Mean for March 2025 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for March 2025 |
Total for March 2025 |
Average for March |
Rank of March 2025 |
Fraction of March average |
|||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Airport | 33.2 | 0.0 | 36.4 | 6th | 24.1 | +0.5 | 22.1 | 7th | 256.6 | 225.7 | average | 114% |
| Central Arnhem Plateau | 32.9 | +0.5 | 37.1 | 5th | 23.5 | +0.4 | 21.8 | 15th | 195.2 | 208.7 | average | 94% |
| Channel Point | 32.8 | +0.7 | 35.2 | 4th | 25.3 | +0.4 | 23.5 | 16th | 391.4 | 321.3 | average | 122% |
| Charles Point | 32.1 | -0.1 | 34.2 | 7th | 25.4 | -0.2 | 22.8 | 15th | 296.8 | 222.8 | average | 133% |
| Darwin Airport | 32.7 | +0.7 | 34.7 | 12th | 25.3 | +0.7 | 22.5 | 15th | 359.2 | 310.0 | average | 116% |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 36.0 | +1.3 | 40.3 | 6th | 24.1 | +0.7 | 22.1 | 8th | 228.0 | 149.3 | average | 153% |
| Douglas River Research Farm | 34.6 | +0.5 | 37.3 | 6th | 24.3 | +1.0 | 21.9 | 1st | 140.6 | 223.8 | average | 63% |
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 32.7 | +0.6 | 35.0 | 6th | 24.9 | -0.4 | 22.7 | 15th | 601.2 | 296.2 | highest | 203% |
| East Point | 32.3 | 34.5 | 17th | 25.5 | 22.8 | 15th | 377.2 | |||||
| Jabiru Airport | 34.1 | +0.3 | 37.7 | 5th | 25.0 | +0.5 | 23.5 | 8th | 328.8 | 301.5 | average | 109% |
| Kangaroo Flats (Defence) | 34.4 | 37.8 | 5th | 24.6 | 22.7 | 16th | 269.8 | |||||
| Knuckey Lagoon | 33.2 | 35.0 | 17th | 24.8 | 22.9 | 16th | 286.6 | |||||
| McCluer Island | 31.7 | +0.6 | 33.8 | 8th | 27.1 | +0.9 | 24.3 | 24th | 211.4 | 211.0 | average | 100% |
| Middle Point | 33.5 | -0.3 | 37.3 | 6th | 24.5 | +0.4 | 22.6 | 7th | 333.0 | 244.8 | high | 136% |
| Mount Bundey North (Defence) | 34.1 | 37.3 | 6th | 24.4 | 21.8 | 7th | 353.2 | |||||
| Mount Bundey South (Defence) | 34.5 | 37.4 | 6th | 24.5 | 22.5 | 7th | 265.6 | |||||
| Murganella Airstrip | 32.9 | 0.0 | 35.9 | 8th | 24.1 | 0.0 | 21.9 | 8th | 226.8 | |||
| Noonamah Airstrip | 34.2 | -0.1 | 37.0 | 5th | 24.6 | -0.1 | 22.2 | 17th | 374.6 | 217.2 | high | 172% |
| Oenpelli Airport | 33.6 | -0.2 | 36.7 | 6th | 25.3 | +0.2 | 24.1 | 21st | 302.8 | 238.0 | high | 127% |
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 33.0 | +0.8 | 35.6 | 6th | 24.9 | +0.7 | 23.5 | 7th | 28.0 | 345.9 | lowest | 8% |
| Point Stuart | 32.6 | +0.2 | 34.3 | 5th | 25.4 | +0.2 | 23.6 | 7th | 304.6 | 214.5 | high | 142% |
| Port Keats Airport | 32.9 | -0.6 | 36.7 | 6th | 24.4 | 0.0 | 22.1 | 16th | 307.6 | 205.1 | high | 150% |
| Tindal RAAF | 35.9 | +1.4 | 39.2 | 6th | 24.1 | +0.9 | 21.5 | 1st | 153.6 | 157.3 | average | 98% |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Gove Airport | 32.1 | 34.0 | 4th | 25.2 | 23.6 | 16th | 171.4 | |||||
| Groote Eylandt Airport | 33.3 | +0.5 | 36.1 | 5th | 25.0 | +1.0 | 22.6 | 4th | 103.6 | 290.8 | low | 36% |
| Maningrida Airport | 32.0 | -0.3 | 34.3 | 10th | 25.0 | +0.4 | 24.0 | 16th | 310.2 | 283.4 | average | 110% |
| Milingimbi Airport | 32.7 | +0.1 | 34.6 | 7th | 25.3 | +0.3 | 24.0 | 18th | 219.4 | 260.8 | average | 84% |
| Ngayawili | 32.0 | +0.3 | 34.3 | 4th | 25.6 | +0.5 | 23.5 | 21st | 0.0 | 260.9 | lowest | 0% |
| Warruwi Airport | 32.0 | +0.4 | 34.5 | 6th | 25.4 | +0.1 | 23.1 | 9th | 483.6 | 232.7 | high | 208% |
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola Airport | 35.1 | +0.9 | 40.2 | 6th | 24.5 | +1.0 | 22.4 | 1st | 129.4 | 162.2 | average | 80% |
| Bulman | 35.7 | +1.0 | 38.7 | 6th | 23.6 | +0.2 | 20.5 | 2nd | 197.6 | 223.3 | average | 88% |
| Centre Island | 33.0 | -0.1 | 36.4 | 6th | 26.8 | +0.3 | 23.7 | 17th | 255.8 | 248.0 | average | 103% |
| Daly Waters Airstrip | 36.5 | +1.6 | 41.8 | 6th | 22.8 | +0.3 | 19.3 | 1st | 143.2 | 110.0 | high | 130% |
| McArthur River Mine Airport | 36.4 | +1.2 | 41.3 | 6th | 24.9 | +1.3 | 22.9 | 1st | 112.2 | 150.1 | average | 75% |
| Ngukurr Airport | 36.6 | +0.6 | 40.6 | 6th | 25.1 | +0.5 | 22.8 | 2nd | 225.4 | 148.6 | average | 152% |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Bradshaw | 37.6 | +1.5 | 41.6 | 6th | 24.6 | +0.1 | 22.6 | 15th | 189.0 | 144.4 | average | 131% |
| Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) | 38.6 | 41.4 | 6th | 25.1 | 22.6 | 17th | 41.8 | |||||
| Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) | 36.0 | 39.9 | 6th | 23.9 | 20.9 | 7th | 65.8 | |||||
| Lajamanu Airport | 37.9 | +2.5 | 43.1 | 3rd | 24.6 | +2.3 | 22.3 | 27th | 102.2 | 87.6 | average | 117% |
| Victoria River Downs | 37.5 | +2.1 | 41.4 | 6th | 24.8 | +1.5 | 22.0 | 1st | 70.6 | 109.3 | average | 65% |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Elliott | 36.6 | +0.8 | 42.0 | 6th | 24.1 | +1.6 | 22.5 | 17th | 207.7 | 86.5 | high | 240% |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 36.9 | +2.3 | 42.9 | 3rd | 24.5 | +1.1 | 21.0 | 31st | 75.6 | 59.3 | high | 128% |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 35.1 | +2.2 | 44.5 | 1st | 21.2 | +3.6 | 17.4 | 25th | 19.6 | 33.3 | average | 59% |
| Curtin Springs | 38.5 | +4.4 | 45.7 | 1st | 23.9 | +5.1 | 18.8 | 25th | 0.0 | 27.5 | lowest | 0% |
| Jervois | 36.9 | +2.1 | 45.5 | 2nd | 23.2 | +3.6 | 19.8 | 26th | 139.4 | 36.4 | high | 383% |
| Rabbit Flat | 39.4 | +2.8 | 44.9 | 3rd | 23.8 | +2.1 | 19.1 | 6th | 44.2 | 80.6 | average | 55% |
| Territory Grape Farm | 36.9 | +2.3 | 43.8 | 2nd | 22.0 | +2.3 | 18.4 | 31st | 35.2 | 28.4 | high | 124% |
| Walungurru Airport | 37.0 | +0.3 | 45.1 | 2nd | 25.7 | +1.2 | 17.0 | 31st | 49.2 | 45.2 | high | 109% |
| Watarrka | 34.0 | -1.0 | 44.0 | 1st | 21.1 | +0.4 | 15.8 | 31st | 38.8 | 33.5 | high | 116% |
| Yulara Airport | 36.0 | +1.3 | 45.3 | 1st | 23.4 | +3.8 | 17.4 | 29th | 12.6 | 30.9 | average | 41% |
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 1 April 2025. 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
