Wednesday, 28 April 2010 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC22R0
Wet season 2009 - 2010
Rainfall was average to very much above average during the Northern Territory's wet season (October 2009 - April 2010). It started with dry conditions during October and November but had good falls during December and January. Widespread heavy rainfall occurred from the 10th of December for several days mainly due to the weather associated with Tropical Cyclone Laurence. It wasn't until 5 January when north-westerly winds descended on Darwin, and the associated rainfall marked the onset of the monsoon.
Tropical Cyclone Laurence in December, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Olga in January and Tropical Cyclone Paul in March all formed close to the Northern Territory coast and produced significant rainfall in various parts of the Territory. Ex-TC Laurence produced heavy rainfall through the Alice Springs District in January and was followed by another tropical low at the end of February - producing two very substantial rainfall events for the season. The Todd river in Alice Springs flowed on at least four occasions during the season.
Rainfall over the north-western parts of the Territory during March was below normal, but was above normal in April. A surge of south-easterly winds progressed to the north coast by the end of April, heralding the end of the wet season and the start of “The Dry”, which officially began on 1 May.
In southern parts, the dry conditions remained for the first three months of the season. From January onwards Alice Springs Airport recorded above average rainfall in each month. For the second time during the recording period, January and February both recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall each (the previous occurrence was in 1974).
Details Extremes Maps Records Important notes the top
Darwin
Darwin's wet season total rainfall of 2015.6 mm was well above the long-term average of 1662 mm. This is the highest wet season rainfall total since the 1999 - 2000 season. Maximum and minimum temperatures were both above average during the season.
Alice Springs
Total rainfall recorded at Alice Springs for the period October 2009 to April 2010 was 404.4mm, well above the long-term mean of 216.0mm. The maximum and minimum temperatures remained within 1°C of the long term average.
Rainfall
Over the Territory as a whole, the area-averaged rainfall was 565.2mm, which is 58.3mm above the long-term average. There was a band centred along a line from the southwest corner of the Top End through the northern Barkly District, coinciding with where the monsoon trough persisted for much of January and early February, that saw above average rainfall for the season. The far northeast corner, and parts of the southern Alice Springs region also saw above average falls. Elsewhere rainfall was near average.
The wettest site overall was Channel Island which recorded a total of 2313.4 mm at for the wet season. This was followed by 2237.2 mm at Nightcliff Pool and then 2165.2 mm at Pinelands.
Some sites had their highest total wet season rainfall on record.The wettest day of the season occured at Bulman AWS on 31 Mar 2010 when they observed 442.8 mm while Ex-TC Paul was in the area. This was followed by 358.4 mm at Centre Island AWS on 1 Apr 2010 and then by 290.2 mm at Channel Island on 13 Dec 2009.
Some sites had their highest wet season daily rainfall on record.Maximum temperature
The area-averaged maximum temperature over the Northern Territory was 35.3 °C, which is 0.3 °C above the long-term average. Cool anomalies were seen in the Victoria River region, as well as northern and eastern parts of the Barkly District, coinciding with the region where the persistent monsoon trough produced above average rainfall. The largest warm anomalies were in south-western parts of the Alice Springs District.
The hottest day was 46.0 °C at Rabbit Flat on 8 Dec 2009, followed by 45.8 °C at Jervois on 9 Dec 2009, and then 45.6 °C at Rabbit Flat on 9 Dec 2009.
The warmest days on average were 37.6 °C at Kidman Springs, followed by 37.4 °C at Timber Creek and Victoria River Downs, followed by 37.3 °C at Bradshaw AWS.
The coolest days on average were 31.8 °C at Gove Airport, followed by 32.4 °C at Cape Don AWS and Point Fawcett AWS, followed by 32.5 °C at Dum In Mirrie AWS
The coldest day was 16.0 °C at Arltunga on 11 Dec 2009, followed by 18.9 °C at Watarrka on 13 Mar 2010 and then followed by 19.1 °C at Territory Grape Farm on 11 Dec 2009.
Some sites had their highest wet seasonal temperature on record. Some sites had their highest wet season mean daily maximum temperature on record.Minimum temperature
The area-averaged minimum temperature over the Northern Territory was 22.6 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average. Minimum temperatures were largely close to average, with above average temperatures in the far south.
The coldest night was 5.6 °C at Arltunga on 30 Apr 2010, followed by 5.7 °C at Watarrka on 2 Oct 2009 and then 5.8 °C at Arltunga on 29 Apr 2010.
The coolest nights on average were 18.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport, followed by 19.1 °C at Kulgera and then 19.2 °C at Curtin Springs.
The warmest nights on average were 26.4 °C at Cape Don AWS, followed by 26.0 °C at Warruwi and then 25.8 °C at Dum In Mirrie AWS.
The warmest night was 32.2 °C at Rabbit Flat on 9 Dec 2009 and Jervois on 24 Dec 2009, followed by 31.8 °C at Lajamanu on 22 Nov 2009.
Wind
The strongest wind gust was 126 km/h at Darwin Airport on 27 Feb 2010, followed by 120 km/h at Borroloola AWS on 13 Nov 2009 and then 119 km/h at Yulara Aero AWS on 23 Dec 2009.
Further information
NT Climate Services CentreBureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in wet season 2009 - 2010 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 46.0 °C at Rabbit Flat on 8 Dec 2009 |
| Warmest days on average | 37.6 °C at Kidman Springs |
| Coolest days on average | 31.8 °C at Gove Airport |
| Coldest day | 16.0 °C at Arltunga on 11 Dec 2009 |
| Coldest night | 5.6 °C at Arltunga on 30 April 2010 |
| Coolest nights on average | 18.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Warmest nights on average | 26.4 °C at Cape Don AWS |
| Warmest night | 32.2 °C at Rabbit Flat on 9 Dec 2009 and Jervois on 24 Dec 2009 |
| Wettest overall | 2313.4 mm at Channel Island |
| Wettest day | 442.8 mm at Bulman AWS on 31 Mar 2010 |
| Highest wind gust | 126 km/h at Darwin Airport on 27 Feb 2010 |
Details Extremes Maps Records Important notes the top
| Record highest wet season daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest daily rainfall (mm) | Previous highest (mm) | Years of record |
||||
| Tarlton Downs | 123.0 | on 28 Feb 2010 | 120.0 | on 7 Jan 2007 | 43 | |
| Mallapunyah | 282.0 | on 29 Jan 2010 | 254.0 | on 22 Mar 1964 | 39 | |
| Darwin River Dam | 285.0 | on 13 Dec 2009 | 208.4 | on 10 Dec 1998 | 35 | |
| Channel Island | 290.2 | on 13 Dec 2009 | 249.6 | on 3 Jan 1997 | 25 | |
| Atula | 119.2 | on 28 Feb 2010 | 118.1 | on 3 Feb 1979 | 28 | |
| Stokes Hill | 273.6 | on 13 Dec 2009 | 246.6 | on 16 Mar 1977 | 11 | |
| Wallace Rock Hole | 109.6 | on 9 Jan 2010 | 88.6 | on 12 Feb 2000 | 21 | |
| Territory Grape Farm | 111.0 | on 7 Jan 2010 | 110.0 | on 7 Feb 1991 | 12 | |
| The Granites | 196.0 | on 7 Jan 2010 | 173.9 | on 24 Jan 1987 | 14 | |
| Nelson Springs | 167.0 | on 6 Jan 2010 | 143.4 | on 12 Mar 2006 | 14 | |
| Trephina Gorge | 195.4 | on 9 Jan 2010 | 130.0 | on 31 Mar 1988 | 15 | |
| Waite River | 191.0 | on 7 Jan 2010 | 143.0 | on 7 Feb 1998 | 17 | |
| Batchelor Aero AWS | 223.6 | on 13 Dec 2009 | 197.8 | on 3 Mar 2007 | 16 | |
| Bing Bong Port | 266.0 | on 1 Apr 2010 | 220.0 | on 18 Mar 2006 | 12 | |
| Record highest total wet season rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total rainfall (mm) | Previous highest (mm) | Years of record |
Average (mm) | ||
| Atula | 540.4 | 404.2 | in 2000 - 2001 | 28 | 200.8 |
| Nightcliff Pool | 2237.2 | 1877.4 | in 1966 - 1967 | 13 | 1392.9 |
| Territory Grape Farm | 441.6 | 398.4 | in 1990 - 1991 | 10 | 223.8 |
| Record highest wet season temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest temperature (°C) | Previous highest (°C) | Years of record |
Average (°C) | |||
| Black Point | 36.1 | on 19 Oct 2009 | = 36.1 | on 22 Oct 2008 | 14 | 32.0 |
| Lajamanu | 45.4 | on 8 Dec 2009 | 45.0 | on 5 Dec 2004 | 13 | 36.5 |
| Dum In Mirrie AWS | 38.0 | on 18 Oct 2009 | 37.7 | on 23 Oct 2008 | 10 | 32.1 |
| Record highest wet season mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature (°C) |
Previous highest (°C) | Years of record |
Average (°C) | ||
| Dum In Mirrie AWS | 32.5 | 32.4 | in 2008 - 2009 | 10 | 32.1 |
| Record highest wet season daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest temperature (°C) | Previous highest (°C) | Years of record |
Average (°C) | |||
| Darwin Airport | 29.7 | on 10 Dec 2009 | = 29.7 | on 3 Dec 2007 | 65 | 24.8 |
| Black Point | 30.2 | on 9 Dec 2009 | 30.0 | on 26 Nov 1998 | 14 | 25.5 |
| Lajamanu | 31.8 | on 22 Nov 2009 | 30.1 | on 2 Dec 2007 | 12 | 22.2 |
| Rabbit Flat | 32.2 | on 9 Dec 2009 | 31.2 | on 30 Nov 1996 | 10 | 21.5 |
| Record highest wet season mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature (°C) |
Previous highest (°C) | Years of record |
Average (°C) | ||
| Tindal RAAF | 24.5 | 24.3 | in 1997 - 1998 | 18 | 23.7 |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 24.2 | 24.1 | in 2002 - 2003 | 11 | 23.6 |
| Batchelor Aero AWS | 23.8 | 23.7 | in 2005 - 2006 | 10 | 23.3 |
Details Extremes Maps Records Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for wet season 2009-2010 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) | Minimum temperatures (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | ||||||||||
| Mean | Diff from average |
Highest | Mean | Diff from average |
Lowest | Total | Average | Rank | Fraction of average |
|||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Aero AWS | 34.3 | +0.1 | 39.2 | 3 Oct 2009 | 23.8 | +0.5 | 17.8 | 19 Oct 2009 | 1661.4 | 1497.6 | average | 111% |
| Bradshaw AWS | 37.3 | 44.0 | 5 Dec 2009 | 25.1 | 17.3 | 19 Oct 2009 | 1113.8 | |||||
| Cape Don AWS | 32.4 | 35.8 | 6 Dec 2009 | 26.4 | 22.8 | 11 Dec 2009 | 1199.2 | 1230.7 | average | 97% | ||
| Central Arnhem Plateau AWS | 33.3 | 39.4 | 15 Nov 2009 | 22.9 | 12.9 | 7 Oct 2009 | 1420.0 | |||||
| Darwin Airport | 33.0 | +0.6 | 38.0 | 18 Oct 2009 | 25.1 | +0.3 | 22.3 | 19 Oct 2009 | 2015.6 | 1661.1 | high | 122% |
| Delamere Weapons Range AWS | 36.3 | +0.9 | 42.2 | 5 Dec 2009 | 24.2 | +0.6 | 17.6 | 8 Oct 2009 | 478.0 | 893.8 | lowest | 53% |
| Dum In Mirrie AWS | 32.5 | +0.4 | 38.0 | 18 Oct 2009 | 25.8 | +0.4 | 21.0 | 19 Oct 2009 | 1825.4 | 1749.4 | average | 104% |
| Jabiru Airport AWS | 35.7 | +0.8 | 41.2 | 18 Nov 2009 | 24.7 | +0.4 | 18.1 | 8 Oct 2009 | 1568.0 | 1503.2 | average | 104% |
| Katherine Aviation Museum | 35.6 | +0.1 | 41.5 | 9 Dec 2009 | 23.9 | +0.3 | 14.3 | 8 Oct 2009 | 1033.4 | 1105.0 | average | 94% |
| Mango Farm | 35.6 | +0.8 | 41.0 | 3 Oct 2009 | 23.1 | -0.1 | 13.2 | 8 Oct 2009 | 1360.1 | 1376.5 | average | 99% |
| Middle Point AWS | 35.2 | 40.2 | 17 Oct 2009 | 23.6 | 16.2 | 19 Oct 2009 | 1116.0 | |||||
| Noonamah AWS | 35.0 | 40.8 | 17 Oct 2009 | 23.9 | 16.7 | 19 Oct 2009 | 1987.4 | |||||
| Pine Creek Council | 34.9 | 39.7 | 18 Nov 2009 | 24.1 | 20.4 | 8 Oct 2009 | 1212.7 | |||||
| Pirlangimpi AWS | 33.2 | +0.8 | 36.8 | 18 Oct 2009 | 24.6 | +0.7 | 20.4 | 19 Oct 2009 | 2069.4 | 1929.3 | average | 107% |
| Point Fawcett AWS | 32.4 | +0.3 | 36.3 | 17 Oct 2009 | 25.1 | +0.1 | 18.8 | 19 Oct 2009 | 1453.2 | 1429.9 | average | 102% |
| Tindal RAAF AWS | 35.6 | +0.5 | 41.1 | 15 Nov 2009 | 24.5 | +0.8 | 15.2 | 19 Oct 2009 | 782.4 | 1075.5 | low | 73% |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Gove Airport | 31.8 | -0.1 | 36.1 | 2 Dec 2009 | 23.9 | +0.2 | 18.9 | 26 Oct 2009 | 1271.8 | 1286.7 | average | 99% |
| Groote Eylandt Airport AWS | 33.4 | 0.0 | 37.8 | 3 Dec 2009 | 23.3 | -0.3 | 13.9 | 7 Oct 2009 | 1549.8 | 1334.6 | high | 116% |
| Maningrida Aero AWS | 32.9 | 37.3 | 18 Oct 2009 | 24.5 | 17.1 | 7 Oct 2009 | 1331.2 | |||||
| Warruwi AWS | 32.7 | +0.5 | 36.4 | 3 Dec 2009 | 26.0 | +0.4 | 23.3 | 11 Dec 2009 | 972.8 | 1127.5 | average | 86% |
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola AWS | 35.0 | -0.1 | 40.7 | 2 Dec 2009 | 23.2 | -0.2 | 13.3 | 6 Oct 2009 | 1198.0 | 888.1 | high | 135% |
| Bulman AWS | 35.8 | 41.2 | 15 Nov 2009 | 23.4 | 12.4 | 7 Oct 2009 | 1498.0 | |||||
| Larrimah | 35.7 | 0.0 | 41.5 | 8 Dec 2009 | 22.8 | -0.3 | 13.0 | 10 Oct 2009 | 678.2 | 840.7 | average | 81% |
| McArthur River Mine | 36.2 | -0.4 | 41.9 | 6 Dec 2009 | 24.0 | +0.6 | 14.5 | 10 Oct 2009 | 929.6 | 721.2 | high | 129% |
| Wollogorang | 34.9 | -0.7 | 41.5 | 7 Dec 2009 | 22.4 | -0.2 | 10.7 | 6 Oct 2009 | 1718.7 | 908.8 | v high | 189% |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Kidman Springs | 37.6 | +0.8 | 43.5 | 7 Dec 2009 | 24.5 | +0.6 | 12.2 | 19 Oct 2009 | 496.2 | 740.5 | low | 67% |
| Lajamanu | 36.8 | +0.3 | 45.4 | 8 Dec 2009 | 22.5 | +0.3 | 11.6 | 10 Oct 2009 | 618.6 | 471.3 | high | 131% |
| Timber Creek | 37.4 | +0.9 | 43.5 | 7 Dec 2009 | 24.4 | +0.3 | 12.0 | 11 Oct 2009 | 684.3 | 953.6 | low | 72% |
| Victoria River Downs | 37.4 | +1.0 | 43.4 | 8 Dec 2009 | 24.0 | +0.5 | 12.2 | 10 Oct 2009 | 607.4 | 636.0 | average | 96% |
| Wave Hill | 37.2 | +0.4 | 44.6 | 7 Dec 2009 | 23.2 | +0.5 | 11.3 | 10 Oct 2009 | 647.8 | 661.1 | average | 98% |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Elliott | 36.9 | -0.3 | 43.5 | 9 Dec 2009 | 22.6 | 0.0 | 11.5 | 10 Oct 2009 | 738.4 | 573.9 | high | 129% |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 34.8 | -0.5 | 43.0 | 8 Dec 2009 | 23.3 | -0.1 | 16.1 | 24 Nov 2009 | 585.6 | 427.6 | high | 137% |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 32.8 | -0.4 | 43.2 | 8 Dec 2009 | 18.2 | +0.3 | 6.3 | 18 Oct 2009 | 404.4 | 213.2 | v high | 190% |
| Curtin Springs | 34.4 | +0.2 | 44.0 | 7 Dec 2009 | 19.2 | +0.9 | 8.0 | 3 Oct 2009 | 156.3 | 166.9 | average | 94% |
| Jervois | 34.1 | -1.2 | 45.8 | 9 Dec 2009 | 20.2 | +1.1 | 7.9 | 9 Oct 2009 | 568.2 | 227.8 | v high | 249% |
| Kulgera | 32.8 | -0.2 | 43.0 | 27 Jan 2010 | 19.1 | +0.7 | 6.9 | 18 Oct 2009 | 119.2 | 196.2 | low | 61% |
| Rabbit Flat | 37.1 | -0.2 | 46.0 | 8 Dec 2009 | 21.4 | -0.1 | 7.6 | 19 Oct 2009 | 330.6 | 451.6 | average | 73% |
| Watarrka | 34.0 | -1.0 | 43.4 | 17 Nov 2009 | 20.3 | -0.2 | 5.7 | 2 Oct 2009 | 433.8 | 233.6 | high | 186% |
| Yulara Aero AWS | 34.4 | -0.3 | 43.8 | 7 Dec 2009 | 19.5 | +0.7 | 6.6 | 3 Oct 2009 | 241.6 | 206.8 | high | 117% |
Notes
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Tuesday 4 May 2010. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
Averages are long-term means based on observations from
the years 1800 to 2010.
They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record in that time, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median
is sometimes more representative than the
mean
of long-term average rain.
Further information
NT Climate Services CentreBureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8920 3813
Email climate.nt@bom.gov.au
