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

Northern Territory in January 2026

Rainfall

  • Rainfall totals in January were below average for most of the southern and central Northern Territory, and above average for parts of the Top End.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged rainfall total in January was 99.26 mm, 19% below the 1961–1990 average.
  • It was the wettest January in Northern Territory since 2024.
  • A few sites had their highest January daily rainfall on record.
  • Yeuralba Ridge recorded its highest total January rainfall on record.

Temperature

  • Mean maximum temperatures in January were above to very much above average for most of the southern Northern Territory, and close to average for most of the northern and eastern Northern Territory.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 38.2 °C, 1.83 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the tenth-warmest on record for all Januarys since 1910.
  • The Northern Territory had its lowest mean maximum temperature for January since 2024.
  • Mean minimum temperatures in January were above to very much above average for eastern parts of the Top End and most of the central and southern Northern Territory including a region in the south-west that was the highest on record, and below average for a small region of the eastern Northern Territory.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 25.3 °C, 1.53 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the fifth-warmest on record for all Januarys since 1910.
  • The Northern Territory had its highest mean minimum temperature for January since 2024.
  • Walungurru Airport recorded its highest January mean minimum temperature on record.
  • Tindal RAAF recorded its lowest January mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years.
  • The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean temperature was 31.7 °C, 1.68 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the equal fifth-warmest on record for all Januarys since 1910.
  • Yulara Airport and Walungurru Airport recorded their highest January mean temperature on record.

Events

  • Heatwave conditions impacted much of Australia during January including the southern Northern Territory.
  • For more details, visit the January national climate summary.

Darwin Airport

  • Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 514.2 mm, which is 119% of the long-term average of 431.1 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 31.8 °C, which equalled the long-term average of 31.8 °C.
  • The warmest day was 34.2 °C on the 14th, and the coolest day was on the 12th when the temperature reached 29.4 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 24.8 °C, which is 0.1 °C below the long-term average of 24.9 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 21.8 °C on the 15th, and the warmest morning was on the 14th when the minimum temperature was 28.3 °C.

Alice Springs Airport

  • Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 0.4 mm, which is 1% of the long-term average of 42.3 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 40.8 °C, which is 4.3 °C above the long-term average of 36.5 °C.
  • The warmest day was 43.8 °C on the 25th, and the coolest day was on the 21st when the temperature reached 36.3 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 23.9 °C, which is 2.3 °C above the long-term average of 21.6 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 18.3 °C on the 21st, and the warmest morning was on the 26th when the minimum temperature was 31.5 °C.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in January 2026
Hottest day 46.4 °C at Curtin Springs on the 9th
Warmest days on average 42.8 °C at Walungurru Airport
Coolest days on average 30.9 °C at Central Arnhem Plateau
Coldest day 25.9 °C at Central Arnhem Plateau on the 9th
Coldest night 18.3 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 21st
Coolest nights on average 22.9 °C at Central Arnhem Plateau
Warmest nights on average 28.5 °C at Walungurru Airport
Warmest night 32.2 °C at Walungurru Airport on the 10th
Warmest on average overall 35.7 °C at Walungurru Airport
Coolest on average overall 26.9 °C at Central Arnhem Plateau
Wettest overall 653.8 mm at Knuckey Lagoon
Wettest day 189.0 mm at Wongalara on the 31st
Strongest wind gust 102.0 km/h at Centre Island on the 11th

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 January daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Yeuralba Ridge 108.8 on the 29th 87.6 on 17 Jan 2025 24 254.8
Nitmiluk Ridge 151.8 on the 29th 121.0 on 29 Jan 2010 24 244.5
Central Arnhem Plateau 157.4 on the 9th 150.8 on 05 Jan 2008 22 286.4


Record highest January total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Yeuralba Ridge 577.4 469.2 in 2018 21 256.9


Record highest January mean minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Walungurru Airport 28.5 28.4 in 2019 24 26.3


Lowest January mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
January
Tindal RAAF 23.8 23.6 in 2003 24.4

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 January mean temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Yulara Airport 34.0 33.9 in 2024 39 30.8
Walungurru Airport 35.7 =35.7 in 2019 24 32.9


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for January 2026
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2026		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
January
2026		 Mean for
January
2026		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
January
2026		 Total for
January
2026		 Average
for
January		 Rank of
January
2026		 Fraction of
January
average
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA)
Batchelor Airport 31.5 -1.2 35.3 5th 23.7 -0.3 21.2 15th 397.0 334.9 high 118%
Central Arnhem Plateau 30.9 -0.9 33.6 14th 22.9 -0.4 21.1 6th 414.4 286.4 high 145%
Channel Point 31.7 -0.1 33.8 7th 25.2 0.0 22.7 11th 543.6 463.9 average 117%
Charles Point 31.2 -0.3 32.9 14th 24.8 -0.8 21.4 15th 420.2 438.4 average 96%
Croker Island Airport 31.5 -0.5 32.3 20th 25.6 -0.4 22.5 22nd 438.4 334.9 high 131%
Darwin Airport 31.8 0.0 34.2 14th 24.8 -0.1 21.8 15th 514.2 431.1 average 119%
Delamere Weapons Range 35.2 +0.5 40.0 13th 24.2 0.0 21.2 22nd 102.2 213.5 v low 48%
Douglas River Research Farm 33.1 -0.7 37.3 5th 23.7 -0.3 21.6 6th 393.6 295.6 high 133%
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip 31.9 +0.1 33.7 5th 24.8 -0.8 21.4 12th 535.2 426.2 high 126%
East Point 31.5 33.7 6th 24.8 21.9 15th 563.2
Jabiru Airport 33.2 -0.5 36.5 5th 24.7 0.0 22.7 22nd 348.6 356.3 average 98%
Kangaroo Flats (Defence) 32.7 36.6 5th 24.2 21.3 15th 485.2
Knuckey Lagoon 32.1 34.2 5th 24.4 21.8 15th 653.8
Middle Point 32.4 -1.1 35.9 5th 24.1 -0.2 22.2 15th 418.2 309.4 high 135%
Mount Bundey North (Defence) 32.6 36.1 5th 23.9 21.2 15th 302.4
Mount Bundey South (Defence) 32.8 36.1 5th 24.1 21.2 15th 217.8
Murganella Airstrip 32.6 -0.3 35.2 15th 24.5 -0.1 22.5 22nd 488.4 357.7 high 136%
Noonamah Airstrip 32.4 -0.7 35.7 5th 24.1 -0.7 22.0 15th 605.8 421.7 high 144%
Oenpelli Airport 32.6 -0.8 35.4 14th 24.7 -0.5 22.1 22nd 189.2 375.7 low 50%
Pirlangimpi Airport 31.7 -0.3 34.5 5th 24.9 +0.2 22.1 12th 442.2 415.8 average 106%
Point Stuart 32.1 -0.5 34.7 2nd 25.0 -0.2 22.3 22nd 496.6 297.8 high 167%
Port Keats Airport 32.3 -0.3 36.4 4th 24.7 -0.3 22.0 13th 304.4 376.3 average 81%
Tindal RAAF 33.9 -0.4 38.3 5th 23.8 -0.6 22.0 31st 362.6 260.7 high 139%
Arnhem (district 14BC)
Gove Airport 32.5 34.7 15th 25.2 22.0 22nd 201.6
Groote Eylandt Airport 33.2 -0.3 37.8 14th 25.7 +0.3 23.3 10th 355.0 245.0 high 145%
Maningrida Airport 32.5 -0.1 35.5 13th 24.7 -0.4 23.0 22nd 347.4 275.2 high 126%
Milingimbi Airport 32.8 -0.1 35.0 13th 25.1 -0.4 23.2 14th 279.2 294.7 average 95%
Ngayawili 31.0 -0.8 32.4 2nd 26.2 +0.4 23.5 9th 241.4 347.3 average 70%
Warruwi Airport 31.8 -0.3 34.1 14th 25.7 0.0 23.3 22nd 211.2 263.2 average 80%
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE)
Borroloola Airport 34.5 -0.2 38.6 14th 25.2 +0.2 22.9 22nd 275.0 204.0 high 135%
Bulman 35.1 -0.1 38.3 14th 24.2 -0.3 21.5 22nd 267.2 236.0 average 113%
Centre Island 33.7 -0.1 37.6 12th 26.8 0.0 24.2 25th 295.8 231.3 high 128%
Daly Waters Airstrip 35.6 -0.3 39.3 14th 24.2 +0.1 22.7 22nd 121.6 166.0 average 73%
McArthur River Mine Airport 35.7 -0.4 41.0 12th 24.9 -0.2 22.1 14th 193.4 212.6 average 91%
Ngukurr Airport 35.1 -1.6 38.5 14th 25.3 -0.5 22.4 10th 345.2 168.0 high 206%
Victoria (district 14F)
Bradshaw 34.9 -0.4 39.0 5th 24.6 -0.5 21.6 16th 222.6 242.0 average 92%
Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) 36.4 39.9 15th 24.8 22.4 8th 281.6
Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) 34.5 38.1 4th 24.0 21.2 11th 307.0
Lajamanu Airport 40.2 +2.8 43.9 20th 25.9 +1.6 22.2 30th 31.2 142.5 low 22%
Victoria River Downs 37.2 +0.7 41.5 14th 25.8 +0.8 22.8 30th 86.8 160.3 low 54%
Barkly (district 15A)
Elliott 37.5 +0.1 40.5 14th 24.6 +0.2 22.6 13th 40.0 142.3 low 28%
Tennant Creek Airport 39.1 +2.3 43.0 20th 25.8 +0.8 20.9 29th 38.4 118.7 low 32%
Alice Springs (district 15B)
Alice Springs Airport 40.8 +4.3 43.8 25th 23.9 +2.3 18.3 21st 0.4 42.3 v low 1%
Curtin Springs 42.1 +4.1 46.4 9th 25.5 +3.0 22.1 21st 0.0 28.8 lowest 0%
Jervois 41.3 +2.7 44.1 25th 24.5 +1.3 18.8 18th 0.2 52.1 v low 0%
Rabbit Flat 42.4 +3.8 45.4 20th 25.7 +1.5 22.4 22nd 4.4 131.3 lowest 3%
Territory Grape Farm 41.1 +3.6 42.6 25th 23.3 +1.0 19.3 6th 0.2 65.0 lowest 0%
Walungurru Airport 42.8 +3.3 45.5 19th 28.5 +2.2 23.2 3rd 4.2 52.0 low 8%
Watarrka 41.5 +3.1 43.5 8th 24.1 +0.6 19.5 22nd 19.8 44.9 average 44%
Yulara Airport 41.9 +3.4 45.6 9th 26.2 +3.2 22.4 5th 0.8 29.5 v low 3%

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 February 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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