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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

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 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

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


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





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%

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.

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

Climate