Wednesday, 4 May 2022 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGCC2R0
Northern Territory in October to April 2021-22: Seventh-warmest wet season on record
Maximum temperatures were above average across most of the Northern territory, except the far south recording near average mean maxima. For the Territory as a whole, it was the seventh-warmest wet season on record. Minimum temperatures were above average for the northern half and eastern territory. Rainfall was mixed, with below average rainfall in a large part of the north, while above average rainfall was observed in the south, particularly around Alice Springs, with near average rainfall along the northern coastal areas.
Dry in large part of the north, wet in the south
- Rainfall in the 2021-2022 wet season was 8% below the 1961-1990 average for the Northern Territory.
- Rainfall was mixed, with a large part of the north extending from the Carpentaria to southern Top End, northern Barkly and Gregory districts recording below average rainfall.
- Victoria River Downs, Larrimah and Kidman Springs had their lowest northern wet season rainfall for at least 20 years
- The southern territory recorded above average rainfall, notably around Alice Springs, while northern coastal areas recorded near average rainfall.
- A monsoon trough and associated low pressure system developed at the Top End in late December around Christmas Day and produced widespread moderate to heavy daily falls of 100 mm to 250 mm. Point Stuart and Milingimbi Airport had their highest wet season daily rainfall on record.
- Tropical cyclone Tiffany crossed the south-eastern Gulf of Carpentaria coast on 12 January and the ex-TC Tiffany moved across the base of the Top End to the Kimberley on the 14th. Maranboy Hill recorded its highest wet season daily rainfall on record on the 13th.
- A monsoon trough moved south from the Top End and produced intensive thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to the central and southern territory in late January, Jervois had its highest wet season daily rainfall on record on the 22nd
- Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall were recorded in early February in the south, Allambi had its highest wet season daily rainfall on record on the 2nd.
Warmer than normal daytime temperatures for most of the territory
- Mean maximum temperatures were above average for most of the territory.
- The mean maximum temperature for the territory was 1.31 °C above the 1961-1990 average, and the seventh-warmest wet season on record.
- Warruwi Airport in the Arnhem District coast had its warmest wet season on record.
- Mean minimum temperatures were above average for the northern half and far eastern territory.
- The mean minimum temperature for the territory was 0.71 °C above the 1961-1990 average.
- A number of sites in the Top End had their warmest wet season nights on record
Darwin Airport
- Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 1554.8 mm, which is 93% of the long-term average of 1676.7 mm
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 33.5 °C, which is 1.0 °C above the long-term average of 32.5 °C
- The warmest day was 36.7 °C on 17 November, and the coolest day was on 25 February when the temperature reached 25.9 °C
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.5 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 24.8 °C
- The coldest morning was 21.8 °C on 21 December, and the warmest morning was on 20 December when the minimum temperature was 29.4 °C
Alice Springs Airport
- Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 497.8 mm, which is 225% of the long-term average of 221.2 mm,.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 33.7°C, which is 0.4 °C above the long-term average of 33.3 °C.
- The warmest day was 43.2 °C, on 18 December, and the coolest day was on 31 October when the temperature reached 21.0 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 17.5 °C, which is -0.4 °C below the long-term average of 17.9 °C.
- The coldest morning was 7.7 °C on 12 October, and the warmest morning was on 19 December when the minimum temperature was 30.5 °C.
Further information
- Media
- media@ (03) 9669 4057
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Extremes in October to April 2021-22 | |
---|---|
Hottest day | 46.6 °C at Rabbit Flat on 18 Dec 2021 |
Warmest days on average | 39.3 °C at Rabbit Flat |
Coolest days on average |
31.9 °C at McCluer Island |
Coldest day | 18.1 °C at Jervois on 11 Oct 2021 |
Coldest night | 7.7 °C at Alice Springs Airport on 12 Oct 2021 |
Coolest nights on average | 17.5 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
Warmest nights on average | 27.4 °C at McCluer Island |
Warmest night | 32.3 °C at Walungurru Airport on 4 Jan 2022 |
Warmest on average overall | 31.8 °C at Victoria River Downs |
Coolest on average overall | 25.6 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
Wettest overall | 2155.9 mm at Labelle Downs |
Driest overall | 199.2 mm at Rabbit Flat |
Wettest day | 235.0 mm at Milingimbi Airport on 26 Dec 2021 |
Strongest wind gust | 128 km/h at Alice Springs Airport on 15 Jan 2022 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Maps | |||
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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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Record highest October to April daily rainfall | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
Jervois | 153.2 | on 22 Jan 2022 | 139.2 | on 7 Feb 1976 | 57 | |
Allambi | 194.0 | on 2 Feb 2022 | 146.6 | on 7 Feb 1976 | 55 | |
Point Stuart | 174.6 | on 25 Dec 2021 | 150.0 | on 25 Apr 2001 | 26 | |
Milingimbi Airport | 235.0 | on 26 Dec 2021 | 211.8 | on 31 Dec 2004 | 21 | |
Maranboy Hill | 155.2 | on 13 Jan 2022 | 126.8 | on 22 Dec 2003 | 20 |
Highest October to April total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for October to April |
|||
Allambi | 457.6 | 900.8 | in 1975* | 192.3 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
Lowest October to April total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent lower |
Average for October to April |
|||
Victoria River Downs | 301.0 | 256.0 | in 1935* | 642.5 | |
Larrimah | 451.0 | 393.9 | in 1989* | 840.6 | |
Kidman Springs | 408.4 | 389.9 | in 1991* | 742.2 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported
Record highest October to April temperature | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October to April |
|||
Black Point | 36.8 | on 2 Dec 2021 | 36.4 | on 15 Nov 2011 | 31 | 32.1 |
Channel Point | 38.5 | on 15 Nov 2021 | 37.7 | on 7 Oct 2016 | 28 | 32.2 |
Record highest October to April mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October to April |
||
Warruwi Airport | 33.5 | 33.3 | in 2004 | 52 | 32.3 |
Record highest October to April daily minimum temperature | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October to April |
|||
Territory Grape Farm | 32.1 | on 19 Dec 2021 | 31.1 | on 26 Dec 2019 | 30 | 19.2 |
Channel Point | 30.0 | on 16 Dec 2021 | 29.8 | on 23 Nov 1998 | 28 | 24.7 |
Record highest October to April mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October to April |
||
Warruwi Airport | 26.3 | = 26.3 | in 2015 | 51 | 25.7 |
Centre Island | 27.3 | 27.0 | in 2018 | 46 | 26.3 |
Gove Airport | 25.0 | 24.8 | in 1998 | 41 | 23.8 |
Tindal RAAF | 24.5 | = 24.5 | in 2009 | 32 | 23.7 |
Douglas River Research Farm | 23.7 | = 23.7 | in 2005 | 30 | 23.1 |
Channel Point | 25.4 | = 25.4 | in 2018 | 25 | 24.7 |
Batchelor Airport | 23.9 | = 23.9 | in 2018 | 22 | 23.5 |
Ngayawili | 25.3 | 25.2 | in 2000 | 21 | 24.7 |
Middle Point | 23.9 | = 23.9 | in 2005 | 20 | 23.5 |
Record highest October to April mean temperature | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October to April |
||
Warruwi Airport | 29.9 | 29.8 | in 2015 | 51 | 29.0 |
Centre Island | 31.0 | 30.8 | in 2018 | 46 | 29.9 |
Gove Airport | 29.0 | 28.9 | in 2015 | 41 | 27.9 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Summary statistics for October to April 2021-22 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
Mean for October to April 2021-22 |
Diff from average |
Highest for October to April 2021-22 |
Mean for October to April 2021-22 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for October to April 2021-22 |
Total for October to April 2021-22 |
Average for October to April |
Rank of October to April 2021-22 |
Fraction of October to April average |
|||
Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
Batchelor Airport | 34.3 | +0.1 | 39.1 | 5 Oct 2021 | 23.9 | +0.4 | 18.6 | 23 Apr 2022 | 1349.4 | 1445.4 | average | 93% |
Central Arnhem Plateau | 34.1 | +0.6 | 39.0 | 18 Oct 2021 | 23.5 | +0.6 | 19.1 | 23 Apr 2022 | 973.2 | 1099.1 | low | 89% |
Channel Point | 32.7 | +0.5 | 38.5 | 15 Nov 2021 | 25.4 | +0.7 | 20.5 | 16 Nov 2021 | 1375.2 | 1737.7 | low | 79% |
Charles Point | 32.4 | 34.8 | 20 Apr 2022 | 25.7 | 21.8 | 6 Jan 2022 | 1480.8 | |||||
Croker Island Airport | 33.2 | 37.2 | 1 Nov 2021 | 25.9 | 22.3 | 6 Jan 2022 | 1126.8 | |||||
Darwin Airport | 33.5 | +1.0 | 36.7 | 17 Nov 2021 | 25.5 | +0.7 | 21.8 | 21 Dec 2021 | 1554.8 | 1676.7 | average | 93% |
Delamere Weapons Range | 36.8 | +1.2 | 42.9 | 21 Oct 2021 | 24.2 | +0.5 | 17.4 | 3 Apr 2022 | 597.4 | 844.5 | low | 71% |
Douglas River Research Farm | 35.8 | +0.6 | 40.6 | 18 Nov 2021 | 23.7 | +0.6 | 15.2 | 16 Nov 2021 | 957.0 | 1260.0 | low | 76% |
Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 33.0 | +0.6 | 36.7 | 16 Nov 2021 | 25.5 | 0.0 | 21.5 | 29 Dec 2021 | 2131.2 | 1737.3 | high | 123% |
Jabiru Airport | 36.0 | +0.9 | 41.0 | 19 Oct 2021 | 25.2 | +0.7 | 21.9 | 21 Dec 2021 | 1234.0 | 1490.2 | low | 83% |
Knuckey Lagoon | 33.7 | 37.2 | 7 Oct 2021 | 24.5 | 21.0 | 17 Nov 2021 | 1963.4 | |||||
McCluer Island | 31.9 | +0.6 | 35.3 | 2 Dec 2021 | 27.4 | +0.8 | 23.1 | 6 Jan 2022 | 773.6 | 1086.3 | low | 71% |
Middle Point | 35.2 | +0.4 | 40.5 | 18 Oct 2021 | 23.9 | +0.4 | 18.9 | 17 Nov 2021 | 1547.0 | 1345.7 | high | 115% |
Mount Bundey North (Defence) | 35.2 | 40.3 | 19 Oct 2021 | 24.4 | 21.2 | 12 Jan 2022 | 1426.6 | |||||
Mount Bundey South (Defence) | 35.8 | 40.8 | 19 Oct 2021 | 24.3 | 19.5 | 23 Apr 2022 | 840.6 | |||||
Murganella Airstrip | 34.4 | 38.5 | 18 Nov 2021 | 23.9 | 20.7 | 18 Apr 2022 | 1159.4 | |||||
Noonamah Airstrip | 35.0 | 39.8 | 2 Dec 2021 | 24.6 | 20.3 | 17 Nov 2021 | 978.4 | |||||
Oenpelli Airport | 35.5 | 41.3 | 19 Oct 2021 | 25.1 | 21.9 | 17 Nov 2021 | 1248.4 | |||||
Pirlangimpi Airport | 33.7 | +1.0 | 37.6 | 7 Oct 2021 | 24.3 | +0.3 | 21.7 | 17 Nov 2021 | 1928.8 | 1929.6 | average | 100% |
Point Fawcett | 32.8 | +0.4 | 36.4 | 4 Dec 2021 | 25.2 | +0.3 | 21.8 | 17 Nov 2021 | 1620.2 | 1486.0 | average | 109% |
Point Stuart | 34.2 | 38.3 | 21 Oct 2021 | 25.1 | 21.7 | 12 Jan 2022 | 1437.0 | 1351.1 | average | 106% | ||
Tindal RAAF | 36.8 | +1.4 | 41.8 | 3 Dec 2021 | 24.5 | +0.8 | 16.8 | 10 Apr 2022 | 675.0 | 1023.1 | v low | 66% |
Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
Cape Wessel | 33.6 | 37.0 | 17 Nov 2021 | 26.1 | 22.5 | 27 Jan 2022 | 1239.4 | 1082.6 | average | 114% | ||
Gove Airport | 33.1 | +1.1 | 36.4 | 13 Dec 2021 | 25.0 | +1.2 | 21.2 | 1 Oct 2021 | 1491.2 | 1290.2 | high | 116% |
Groote Eylandt Airport | 34.2 | +0.7 | 38.8 | 19 Oct 2021 | 24.0 | +0.3 | 17.8 | 15 Nov 2021 | 1038.6 | 1230.8 | low | 84% |
Maningrida Airport | 33.5 | +0.6 | 37.4 | 13 Dec 2021 | 25.0 | +0.6 | 21.3 | 16 Nov 2021 | 1275.8 | 1203.3 | average | 106% |
Milingimbi Airport | 33.8 | +0.7 | 38.2 | 13 Dec 2021 | 25.4 | +0.4 | 22.0 | 12 Jan 2022 | 1300.6 | 1126.8 | average | 115% |
Ngayawili | 32.6 | +0.4 | 36.8 | 17 Nov 2021 | 25.3 | +0.6 | 21.7 | 7 Oct 2021 | 1338.6 | 1364.3 | average | 98% |
Warruwi Airport | 33.5 | +1.2 | 37.5 | 2 Dec 2021 | 26.3 | +0.6 | 22.4 | 3 Apr 2022 | 998.4 | 1116.3 | average | 89% |
Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
Borroloola Airport | 37.3 | +1.9 | 43.0 | 2 Mar 2022 | 23.8 | +0.4 | 15.8 | 9 Apr 2022 | 562.0 | 890.4 | low | 63% |
Bulman | 37.3 | +1.2 | 41.3 | 4 Oct 2021 | 23.6 | +0.2 | 16.4 | 16 Nov 2021 | 726.6 | 1028.9 | v low | 71% |
Centre Island | 34.7 | +1.2 | 40.2 | 1 Mar 2022 | 27.3 | +1.0 | 22.5 | 27 Dec 2021 | 443.6 | 1032.0 | v low | 43% |
Daly Waters Airstrip | 37.9 | +1.8 | 44.0 | 21 Oct 2021 | 22.7 | 0.0 | 12.5 | 17 Nov 2021 | 437.4 | 661.5 | low | 66% |
McArthur River Mine Airport | 38.0 | +1.3 | 43.4 | 4 Mar 2022 | 24.1 | +0.5 | 15.4 | 9 Apr 2022 | 533.6 | 761.6 | low | 70% |
Ngukurr Airport | 38.5 | 43.4 | 14 Dec 2021 | 24.9 | 17.9 | 16 Nov 2021 | 536.0 | 728.6 | low | 74% | ||
Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
Bradshaw | 37.5 | +0.7 | 42.8 | 5 Oct 2021 | 25.2 | +0.5 | 18.4 | 3 Apr 2022 | 945.2 | 926.6 | average | 102% |
Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) | 37.7 | 43.4 | 5 Oct 2021 | 18.9 | 10 Apr 2022 | 600.8 | ||||||
Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) | 36.7 | 43.5 | 5 Oct 2021 | 23.9 | 14.5 | 4 Apr 2022 | 824.4 | |||||
Victoria River Downs | 38.8 | +2.2 | 44.9 | 16 Dec 2021 | 24.8 | +1.2 | 16.2 | 17 Nov 2021 | 301.0 | 642.5 | v low | 47% |
Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
Elliott | 38.1 | +0.9 | 44.9 | 16 Dec 2021 | 24.2 | +1.4 | 16.5 | 14 Nov 2021 | 290.7 | 566.8 | low | 51% |
Tennant Creek Airport | 37.1 | +1.7 | 44.1 | 3 Jan 2022 | 24.2 | +0.8 | 15.4 | 1 Nov 2021 | 278.6 | 433.1 | low | 64% |
Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
Alice Springs Airport | 33.7 | +0.4 | 43.2 | 18 Dec 2021 | 17.5 | -0.4 | 7.7 | 12 Oct 2021 | 497.8 | 221.2 | v high | 225% |
Jervois | 36.1 | +0.7 | 45.9 | 19 Dec 2021 | 20.0 | +0.6 | 9.5 | 16 Oct 2021 | 296.4 | 233.8 | high | 127% |
Rabbit Flat | 39.3 | +1.9 | 46.6 | 18 Dec 2021 | 21.6 | +0.1 | 12.4 | 16 Oct 2021 | 199.2 | 426.3 | v low | 47% |
Territory Grape Farm | 35.7 | +0.7 | 44.6 | 19 Dec 2021 | 19.1 | -0.1 | 10.3 | 13 Nov 2021 | 297.2 | 245.7 | average | 121% |
Walungurru Airport | 36.8 | -0.4 | 46.4 | 18 Dec 2021 | 23.9 | +0.1 | 12.7 | 12 Nov 2021 | 277.0 | 236.6 | high | 117% |
Yulara Airport | 34.7 | -0.2 | 45.4 | 18 Dec 2021 | 19.3 | +0.2 | 9.0 | 12 Nov 2021 | 278.0 | 210.2 | high | 132% |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
The Seasonal climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each 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. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 8 am on Monday 2 May 2022. 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.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057