Wednesday 1 April 2026 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in March 2026

Rainfall

• Rainfall totals in March were above to very much above average for most of the Northern Territory, and highest on record for parts of the Top End.
• Northern Territory's area-averaged rainfall total in March was 200.0 mm, 97% above the 1961–1990 average, the sixth-wettest on record for all Marches since 1900.
• Many sites had their highest March daily rainfall on record.
• Many sites had their highest total March rainfall on record or highest total March rainfall for at least 20 years.

Temperature

• Mean maximum temperatures in March were below to very much below average across most of the Northern Territory.
• Northern Territory's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 31.96 °C, 1.90 °C below the 1961–1990 average.
• Northern Territory had its lowest mean maximum temperature for March since 2011.
• Mean minimum temperatures in March were average to above average for most of the Territory, and below average for small areas in the Barkly district.
• Northern Territory's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 22.09 °C, 0.34 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
• Northern Territory's area-averaged mean temperature was 27.04 °C, 0.77 °C below the 1961–1990 average.
• On the 6th, Dum In Mirrie Airstrip and Port Keats Airport had their coolest or equal coolest March day (lowest daily maximum temperature) on record.
• Several sites had their lowest March mean maximum temperature on record.
• Some sites had their lowest March mean maximum temperature for at least 20 years.
• Tennant Creek Airport, Territory Grape Farm and Rabbit Flat had their coldest March night (lowest daily minimum temperature) on record.
• Dum In Mirrie Airstrip and Central Arnhem Plateau had their equal lowest March mean minimum temperature on record.
• Several sites had their lowest or equal lowest March mean temperature on record.
• Some sites had their lowest March mean temperature for at least 20 years.

Events

• Tropical lows 31U and 33U brought heavy rainfall to the Territory's Top End.
• Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle impacted the Top End from 22 March.
• For more details, visit the March national climate summary.

Darwin Airport

• Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 515.2 mm, which is 166% of the long-term average of 310.7 mm.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 30.8 °C, which is 1.2 °C below the long-term average of 32.0 °C.
• The warmest day was 34.3 °C on the 28th, and the coolest day was on the 9th when the temperature reached 26.0 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 24.4 °C, which is 0.2 °C below the long-term average of 24.6 °C.
• The coldest morning was 23.0 °C on the 10th, and the warmest morning was on the 20th when the minimum temperature was 26.4 °C.

Alice Springs Airport

• Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 140.8 mm, which is 425% of the long-term average of 33.1 mm.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 29.0 °C, which is 3.9 °C below the long-term average of 32.9 °C.
• The warmest day was 33.8 °C on the 12th, and the coolest day was on the 28th when the temperature reached 22.6 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 17.6 °C, which is 0.1 °C below the long-term average of 17.7 °C.
• The coldest morning was 6.5 °C on the 29th, and the warmest morning was on the 1st when the minimum temperature was 23.8 °C.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Extremes in March 2026
Hottest day	38.0 °C at Rabbit Flat on the 8th
Warmest days on average	34.1 °C at Walungurru Airport 34.1 °C at Bradshaw
Coolest days on average	29.0 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Coldest day	22.6 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 28th
Coldest night	6.5 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 29th
Coolest nights on average	17.6 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Warmest nights on average	26.1 °C at Centre Island
Warmest night	28.9 °C at Centre Island on the 21st
Warmest on average overall	29.1 °C at Bradshaw 29.1 °C at McArthur River Mine Airport 29.1 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence)
Coolest on average overall	23.3 °C at Alice Springs Airport
Wettest overall	977.0 mm at Buley Rockhole
Wettest day	244.0 mm at Channel Point on the 23rd
Strongest wind gust	98.0 km/h at Gove Airport on the 21st

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record highest March daily rainfall
	New record (mm)		Old record		Years of record	Average for March
Warramunga	105.7	on the 13th	81.6	on 19 Mar 1975	56	55.2
Pine Hill	89.0	on the 17th	57.2	on 23 Mar 1989	45	37.3
Territory Grape Farm	59.4	on the 2nd	49.4	on 04 Mar 2020	38	28.6
Channel Point	244.0	on the 23rd	185.8	on 05 Mar 1995	36	324.6
Wandie Creek	169.0	on the 6th	135.0	on 12 Mar 1999	35	173.2
Territory Wildlife Park	212.4	on the 10th	142.5	on 03 Mar 2007	35	308.2
Moroak	131.2	on the 5th	76.0	on 29 Mar 2013	31	127.1
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip	142.6	on the 23rd	136.0	on 14 Mar 2012	29	308.3
Upper Fergusson River	218.8	on the 6th	169.6	on 03 Mar 1997	28	190.6
Port Keats Airport	243.8	on the 7th	100.4	on 20 Mar 2024	26	209.2
West Waterhouse	134.6	on the 6th	110.6	on 25 Mar 2015	24	150.1
Maranboy Hill	99.6	on the 6th	98.8	on 12 Mar 2016	23	124.8
Nitmiluk Ridge	127.4	on the 6th	113.4	on 28 Mar 2013	23	167.6
Upper Seventeen Mile Creek	150.8	on the 6th	111.6	on 03 Mar 2004	23	184.2
Yeuralba Ridge	152.4	on the 6th	128.2	on 25 Mar 2015	23	183.8
Edith Farms Road	215.0	on the 6th	129.2	on 30 Mar 2013	23	194.2
Foelsche Headland	150.4	on the 6th	107.2	on 05 Mar 2004	22	164.1
Awillaway Fly Creek	224.0	on the 10th	141.8	on 03 Mar 2007	22	282.3
East Arm	134.0	on the 3rd	101.0	on 10 Mar 2006	21	280.9
Mount Felix	153.2	on the 6th	126.8	on 25 Mar 2015	21	181.7
Edith Falls Ridge	230.2	on the 6th	137.8	on 25 Mar 2007	21	177.3

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Record highest March total rainfall
	New record (mm)	Old record		Years of record	Average for March
Adelaide River Post Office	808.0	653.0	in 2007	61	254.1
Tipperary	891.0	621.7	in 2000	53	211.0
Douglas River Research Farm	799.2	636.4	in 1974	51	222.9
Humpty Doo Collard Road	713.6	686.0	in 2007	45	316.0
Tindal RAAF	509.6	396.9	in 2004	43	157.2
Cattle Creek	338.6	328.0	in 1983	37	83.4
Channel Point	800.8	778.1	in 1995	35	324.6
Wandie Creek	628.0	616.4	in 2024	34	173.2
Moroak	539.4	418.0	in 2006	28	134.0
Cooinda Airstrip	632.3	483.0	in 2000	28	230.5
Florina	539.5	527.8	in 1989	27	160.2
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip	704.0	601.2	in 2025	27	307.5
Upper Fergusson River	711.6	474.6	in 2013	27	190.6
Port Keats Airport	874.4	443.0	in 2001	25	209.2
Bradshaw	555.6	417.2	in 2011	24	146.3
West Waterhouse	413.6	399.8	in 2004	23	150.1
Point Stuart	467.0	451.8	in 2003	23	220.1
Pigeon Hole	349.0	330.6	in 2012	22	98.0
Nitmiluk Ridge	469.0	413.8	in 2004	22	167.6
Yeuralba Ridge	567.2	493.8	in 2007	22	183.8
Lakefield	609.6	398.4	in 2011	22	166.2
Upper Seventeen Mile Creek	619.2	392.0	in 2007	22	184.2
Edith Farms Road	626.4	498.6	in 2013	22	194.2
Cave Creek Station	720.4	412.5	in 2006	22	134.1
Wongalara	382.6	305.7	in 2024	21	163.5
Foelsche Headland	502.0	397.8	in 2024	21	164.1
Awillaway Fly Creek	819.2	628.2	in 2007	21	282.3
Upper Adelaide River	594.0	583.4	in 2007	20	218.4
Edith Falls Ridge	803.2	464.6	in 2007	20	177.3

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Highest March total rainfall for at least 20 years
	Observed (mm)	Most recent higher		Average for March
Old Delamere	444.8	508.8	in 1935	132.9
Victoria River Downs	414.4	456.5	in 1935	111.3
Humbert River	385.0	529.1	in 1964	159.1
Bullo River	561.7	650.6	in 1989	160.3
Curtin Springs	148.4	247.9	in 1989	28.7
East Arm	614.0	694.8	in 1995	320.6
Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge	416.8	484.4	in 1999	281.1
Larrimah	461.1	561.4	in 2000	152.0
Yulara Airport	150.8	202.2	in 2001	33.7
Gilnockie	401.8	436.5	in 2003	138.6
Maranboy Hill	402.6	407.2	in 2004	145.1
Wildman Rangers	413.6	414.9	in 2004	237.1
Central Waterhouse	403.2	455.4	in 2006	174.9
Conways	443.8	774.0	in 2006	212.5
Upper Waterhouse River	442.6	475.8	in 2006	206.9
Darwin Hospital	474.7	645.6	in 2006	294.8

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

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Record lowest March daily maximum temperature
	New record (°C)		Old record		Years of record	Average for March
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip	27.0	on the 6th	=27.0	on 31 Mar 2011	28	32.1
Port Keats Airport	26.2	on the 6th	26.9	on 15 Mar 2012	25	33.5

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Record lowest March mean maximum temperature
	New record (°C)	Old record		Years of record	Average for March
Douglas River Research Farm	31.5	=31.5	in 1974	35	34.1
Batchelor Airport	30.7	31.3	in 2011	29	33.2
Port Keats Airport	31.1	31.5	in 2006	25	33.5

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Lowest March mean maximum temperature for at least 20 years
	Observed (°C)	Most recent higher		Average for March
Jabiru Airport	32.1	31.6	in 1976	33.8
Pirlangimpi Airport	30.8	30.4	in 1989	32.2
Darwin Airport	30.8	30.7	in 1989	32.0
Warruwi Airport	30.7	=30.7	in 2000	31.6
Ngayawili	30.7	30.6	in 2006	31.7
Middle Point	31.7	31.6	in 2006	33.8

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

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Record lowest March temperature
	New record (°C)		Old record		Years of record	Average for March
Tennant Creek Airport	14.1	on the 29th	14.6	on 31 Mar 1973	57	23.4
Territory Grape Farm	9.1	on the 29th	9.8	on 25 Mar 1997	31	19.8
Rabbit Flat	11.5	on the 30th	12.3	on 27 Mar 2014	30	21.8

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Record lowest March mean minimum temperature
	New record (°C)	Old record		Years of record	Average for March
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip	24.4	=24.4	in 1999	28	25.3
Central Arnhem Plateau	22.4	=22.4	in 2014	23	23.1

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Record lowest March mean temperature
	New record (°C)	Old record		Years of record	Average for March
Batchelor Airport	27.0	27.2	in 1997	29	28.4
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip	27.6	27.7	in 2000	28	28.7
Middle Point	27.8	28.0	in 2007	25	28.9
Central Arnhem Plateau	26.3	=26.3	in 2011	23	27.8

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Lowest March mean temperature for at least 20 years
	Observed (°C)	Most recent lower		Average for March
Jabiru Airport	28.3	28.1	in 1977	29.2
Darwin Airport	27.6	27.1	in 1989	28.3
Warruwi Airport	27.8	27.7	in 2000	28.5
Pirlangimpi Airport	27.6	27.4	in 2000	28.2
Tindal RAAF	27.8	27.6	in 2003	28.9
Ngayawili	27.9	=27.9	in 2006	28.4

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

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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for March 2026
	Maximum temperatures (°C)				Minimum temperatures (°C)				Rainfall (millimetres)
	Mean for March 2026	Diff from average	Highest for March 2026		Mean for March 2026	Diff from average	Lowest for March 2026		Total for March 2026	Average for March	Rank of March 2026	Fraction of March average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Airport	30.7	-2.5	34.0	28th	23.5	-0.1	21.4	30th	569.8	226.7	high	251%
Central Arnhem Plateau	30.1	-2.3	33.3	27th	22.4	-0.7	20.4	30th	553.0	209.1	high	264%
Channel Point	30.8	-1.3	34.6	28th	25.4	+0.5	22.2	23rd	800.8	324.6	highest	247%
Charles Point	30.2	-2.0	33.4	30th	24.6	-1.0	22.8	10th	426.4	222.8	high	191%
Croker Island Airport	30.7	-1.3	32.8	28th	25.1	-0.7	23.2	30th	28.0	269.6	lowest	10%
Darwin Airport	30.8	-1.2	34.3	28th	24.4	-0.2	23.0	10th	515.2	310.7	high	166%
Delamere Weapons Range	32.2	-2.6	34.7	27th	23.5	+0.1	18.4	30th	337.2	152.2	high	222%
Douglas River Research Farm	31.5	-2.6	34.9	19th	23.5	+0.2	20.7	30th	799.2	222.9	highest	358%
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip	30.9	-1.2	33.9	29th	24.4	-0.9	21.3	23rd	704.0	307.5	highest	229%
East Point	30.2		32.9	30th	24.7		23.3	10th	643.0
Jabiru Airport	32.1	-1.7	35.8	27th	24.4	-0.1	23.0	6th	456.6	302.0	high	151%
Kangaroo Flats (Defence)	31.5		35.6	28th	23.8		21.7	23rd	622.2
Knuckey Lagoon	30.8		34.5	26th	24.3		22.9	10th	502.2
Middle Point	31.7	-2.1	34.7	28th	23.9	-0.2	22.8	23rd	452.0	248.5	high	182%
Mount Bundey North (Defence)	32.1		34.9	28th	23.7		22.4	22nd	525.0
Mount Bundey South (Defence)	32.0		35.3	19th	23.7		21.1	30th
Murganella Airstrip	31.3	-1.6	33.5	28th	24.1	0.0	22.8	30th	478.8	219.5	high	218%
Noonamah Airstrip	31.4	-2.9	35.1	28th	24.0	-0.7	22.4	23rd	670.6	230.3	highest	291%
Oenpelli Airport	31.6	-2.2	35.2	31st	24.6	-0.5	23.1	6th	311.6	243.0	high	128%
Pirlangimpi Airport	30.8	-1.4	33.9	27th	24.4	+0.2	23.2	7th	506.6	345.9	high	146%
Point Stuart	31.0	-1.4	33.5	28th	25.0	-0.2	23.8	29th	467.0	220.1	highest	212%
Port Keats Airport	31.1	-2.4	34.9	28th	24.3	-0.1	21.7	31st	874.4	209.2	highest	418%
Tindal RAAF	32.4	-2.2	35.1	21st	23.2	-0.1	18.9	30th	509.6	157.2	highest	324%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Gove Airport	30.9		32.6	19th	24.4		21.5	22nd	331.0
Groote Eylandt Airport	32.1	-0.7	34.0	12th	24.7	+0.7	20.3	30th	142.4	283.6	average	50%
Maningrida Airport	31.1	-1.2	33.5	28th	24.5	-0.1	22.1	22nd	250.6	284.7	average	88%
Milingimbi Airport	31.5	-1.1	33.6	31st	24.7	-0.3	22.4	22nd	354.4	261.1	high	136%
Ngayawili	30.7	-1.0	32.9	28th	25.2	+0.1	23.3	28th	219.2	250.9	average	87%
Warruwi Airport	30.7	-0.9	32.9	4th	25.0	-0.3	23.7	24th	173.0	235.1	average	74%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola Airport	32.9	-1.3	35.1	27th	23.9	+0.4	17.4	30th	294.6	163.5	high	180%
Bulman	33.6	-1.2	35.9	19th	23.5	+0.1	19.6	30th	319.2	222.2	high	144%
Centre Island	31.9	-1.2	35.1	20th	26.1	-0.4	24.1	8th	325.2	248.1	high	131%
Daly Waters Airstrip	32.6	-2.3	34.9	27th	23.2	+0.7	15.0	30th	243.2	110.6	high	220%
McArthur River Mine Airport	33.8	-1.5	36.5	20th	24.3	+0.7	17.7	30th	166.0	149.5	average	111%
Ngukurr Airport	33.5	-2.6	35.5	19th	24.5	-0.1	20.0	29th	340.6	154.5	highest	220%
Victoria (district 14F)
Bradshaw	34.1	-2.0	37.2	27th	24.1	-0.4	18.8	30th	555.6	146.3	highest	380%
Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence)	33.8		37.0	27th	24.3		18.7	30th	427.6
Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence)	33.3		36.4	26th	24.0		18.6	30th	406.6
Lajamanu Airport	32.7	-2.8	36.4	8th	22.7	+0.3	13.0	30th	248.6	87.8	high	283%
Victoria River Downs	33.5	-1.9	36.5	8th	24.0	+0.6	15.4	30th	414.4	109.0	high	380%
Barkly (district 15A)
Elliott	32.4	-3.4	34.5	25th	21.5	-1.1	15.5	30th	10.0	88.4	low	11%
Tennant Creek Airport	32.4	-2.3	35.9	7th	22.7	-0.7	14.1	29th	160.8	59.6	high	270%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport	29.0	-3.9	33.8	12th	17.6	-0.1	6.5	29th	140.8	33.1	high	425%
Curtin Springs	31.0	-3.2	36.0	24th	18.2	-0.7	10.1	29th	148.4	27.1	high	548%
Jervois	32.7	-2.1	36.8	7th	20.2	+0.6	10.0	30th	154.4	38.2	high	404%
Rabbit Flat	33.8	-2.9	38.0	8th	21.6	-0.2	11.5	30th	269.2	79.3	high	340%
Territory Grape Farm	31.3	-3.4	35.0	12th	19.3	-0.5	9.1	29th	121.4	28.6	high	424%
Walungurru Airport	34.1	-2.6	37.9	12th	23.1	-1.4	16.9	29th	82.2	45.3	high	182%
Watarrka	31.5	-3.4	36.5	24th	21.4	+0.7	17.5	18th	8.3	33.6	average	25%
Yulara Airport	32.4	-2.3	37.6	12th	19.7	0.0	11.8	29th	150.8	30.4	high	496%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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