Monday, 1 May 2023 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGCC2R0
Northern Territory in October to April 2022-23
Rainfall
- The wet season 2022-2023 rainfall was above average for most of the Northern Territory, with the central two-thirds of the Territory recording very much above average seasonal rainfall.
- Territory-wide, the wet season 2022-2023 rainfall was the sixth-highest on record, and the wettest since 2010-2011.
- Three sites had their highest October to April daily rainfall on record.
- Several sites had their highest total October to April rainfall on record, or highest total October to April rainfall for at least 20 years.
Temperature
- Mean seasonal maximum temperatures were below average for the southern two-thirds of the Territory, whilst the Arnhem and coastal Carpentaria districts saw warmer than normal mean maxima.
- Territory-wide, the mean maximum temperature for the season was 0.6 °C below the 1961–1990 average, the coolest since the wet season of 2010–2011.
- Mean seasonal minimum temperatures were above average in the north and far south of the Territory, whilst cooler than normal mean minima were observed in the Tanami district.
- Territory-wide, the seasonal minimum temperature for the season was 0.16 °C above the 1961–1990 average, but it was the coolest since the wet season of 2011–2012.
- Walungurru Airport had its lowest October to April mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years, and lowest October to April mean temperature for at least 20 years.
Darwin Airport
- Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 1970.8 mm, which is 117% of the long-term average of 1680.4 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 32.8 °C, which is 0.3 °C above the long-term average of 32.5 °C.
- The warmest day was 36.4 °C on 30 October, and the coolest day was on 24 February when the temperature reached 28.1 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.3 °C, which is 0.4 °C above the long-term average of 24.9 °C.
- The coldest morning was 18.6 °C on 19 April, and the warmest morning was on 24 October when the minimum temperature was 29.2 °C.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in October to April 2022-23 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 44.9 °C at Jervois on 7 Dec 2022 |
| Warmest days on average | 36.5 °C at Victoria River Downs |
| Coolest days on average | 31.5 °C at McCluer Island |
| Coldest day | 16.3 °C at Watarrka on 15 Apr 2023 |
| Coldest night | 2.7 °C at Arltunga on 30 Apr 2023 |
| Coolest nights on average | 17.7 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Warmest nights on average | 26.9 °C at Centre Island |
| Warmest night | 31.2 °C at Ngukurr Airport on 1 Nov 2022 |
| Warmest on average overall |
30.3 °C at Centre Island 30.3 °C at Victoria River Downs |
| Coolest on average overall | 25.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Wettest overall | 2636.7 mm at Walker Creek |
| Wettest day | 304.0 mm at Gove Airport Met Office on 18 Apr 2023 |
| Strongest wind gust | 137 km/h at Darwin Airport on 8 Oct 2022 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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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Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Record highest October to April daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Alexandria | 262.0 | on 3 Mar 2023 | 180.3 | on 19 Mar 1901 | 133 | |
| Kurundi | 168.0 | on 25 Dec 2022 | 155.2 | on 23 Feb 1936 | 72 | |
| Montejinni | 221.0 | on 25 Dec 2022 | 212.0 | on 2 Jan 2017 | 53 | |
| Record highest October to April total rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October to April |
||
| Lajamanu Airport | 1274.8 | 1114.6 | in 2005 | 55 | 496.8 |
| Warramunga | 1028.7 | 990.9 | in 2010 | 47 | 423.0 |
| Bullo River | 1234.8 | 1193.7 | in 2020 | 26 | 767.0 |
| Cattle Creek | 921.8 | 913.4 | in 1973 | 26 | 483.6 |
| Birrindudu | 1119.0 | 997.6 | in 2005 | 24 | 591.6 |
| Upper Victoria River | 1232.8 | 1020.4 | in 2003 | 20 | 645.2 |
| Highest October to April total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for October to April |
|||
| Rabbit Flat | 988.4 | 1097.6 | in 2000 | 447.9 | |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 932.4 | 947.0 | in 2000* | 442.5 | |
* 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 mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for October to April |
|||
| Walungurru Airport | 35.1 | 34.9 | in 2001* | 37.2 | |
* 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 mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October to April |
||
| Middle Point | 23.9 | = 23.9 | in 2021 | 21 | 23.5 |
| Lowest October to April mean temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for October to April |
|||
| Walungurru Airport | 28.7 | 28.5 | in 2001* | 30.5 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for October to April 2022-23 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for October to April 2022-23 |
Diff from average |
Highest for October to April 2022-23 |
Mean for October to April 2022-23 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for October to April 2022-23 |
Total for October to April 2022-23 |
Average for October to April |
Rank of October to April 2022-23 |
Fraction of October to April average |
|||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Airport | 33.4 | -0.8 | 39.7 | 2 Nov 2022 | 23.7 | +0.2 | 16.6 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1691.2 | 1455.3 | high | 116% |
| Charles Point | 31.8 | 35.1 | 10 Oct 2022 | 25.7 | 19.7 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1656.8 | |||||
| Darwin Airport | 32.8 | +0.3 | 36.4 | 30 Oct 2022 | 25.3 | +0.4 | 18.6 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1970.8 | 1680.4 | high | 117% |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 35.2 | -0.5 | 42.2 | 23 Oct 2022 | 23.8 | +0.1 | 15.2 | 18 Apr 2023 | 1014.4 | 851.9 | high | 119% |
| Jabiru Airport | 35.0 | -0.1 | 41.1 | 2 Nov 2022 | 25.0 | +0.5 | 19.3 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1217.6 | 1484.3 | low | 82% |
| Kangaroo Flats (Defence) | 34.4 | 38.6 | 2 Nov 2022 | 24.3 | 16.6 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1342.6 | |||||
| Knuckey Lagoon | 33.3 | 36.6 | 2 Dec 2022 | 24.3 | 16.4 | 19 Apr 2023 | ||||||
| McCluer Island | 31.5 | +0.1 | 34.2 | 2 Dec 2022 | 26.8 | +0.1 | 23.2 | 17 Apr 2023 | 1313.8 | 1096.2 | high | 120% |
| Middle Point | 34.4 | -0.4 | 40.3 | 2 Nov 2022 | 23.9 | +0.4 | 16.6 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1220.4 | 1339.8 | average | 91% |
| Mount Bundey North (Defence) | 34.6 | 40.9 | 2 Nov 2022 | 24.2 | 19.3 | 18 Apr 2023 | 1349.8 | |||||
| Mount Bundey South (Defence) | 34.9 | 41.4 | 2 Nov 2022 | 24.2 | 16.8 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1782.6 | |||||
| Noonamah Airstrip | 34.0 | 38.4 | 2 Nov 2022 | 16.7 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1165.6 | 1485.6 | average | 78% | |||
| Oenpelli Airport | 34.3 | 40.0 | 30 Oct 2022 | 25.0 | 20.7 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1584.0 | 1345.1 | high | 118% | ||
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 33.2 | +0.4 | 36.7 | 28 Oct 2022 | 24.3 | +0.3 | 18.6 | 20 Apr 2023 | 2542.0 | 1942.6 | v high | 131% |
| Point Fawcett | 32.2 | -0.2 | 34.9 | 4 Nov 2022 | 25.1 | +0.2 | 17.4 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1705.4 | 1495.5 | average | 114% |
| Port Keats Airport | 33.4 | -0.3 | 38.5 | 6 Nov 2022 | 24.9 | +0.4 | 16.2 | 19 Apr 2023 | 2045.0 | 1289.0 | high | 159% |
| Tindal RAAF | 35.3 | -0.2 | 41.8 | 2 Nov 2022 | 23.9 | +0.2 | 14.5 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1113.6 | 1025.4 | high | 109% |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Wessel | 33.0 | -0.2 | 37.1 | 3 Nov 2022 | 25.7 | -0.4 | 22.4 | 9 Mar 2023 | 1533.8 | 1099.3 | high | 140% |
| Groote Eylandt Airport | 33.6 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 1 Nov 2022 | 24.4 | +0.7 | 19.4 | 5 Nov 2022 | 1319.4 | 1234.5 | average | 107% |
| Maningrida Airport | 32.8 | -0.1 | 37.1 | 1 Nov 2022 | 24.9 | +0.5 | 21.7 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1410.0 | 1214.8 | high | 116% |
| Milingimbi Airport | 33.1 | 0.0 | 37.5 | 1 Dec 2022 | 25.3 | +0.3 | 22.0 | 19 Apr 2023 | 1602.0 | 1150.6 | high | 139% |
| Warruwi Airport | 32.5 | +0.2 | 36.7 | 1 Nov 2022 | 25.8 | +0.1 | 21.9 | 15 Dec 2022 | 1559.8 | 1121.1 | v high | 139% |
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola Airport | 35.5 | 0.0 | 42.5 | 31 Oct 2022 | 23.9 | +0.5 | 14.1 | 18 Apr 2023 | 862.2 | 889.3 | average | 97% |
| Centre Island | 33.6 | +0.1 | 38.2 | 10 Dec 2022 | 26.9 | +0.6 | 22.1 | 17 Apr 2023 | 921.2 | 1029.8 | average | 89% |
| Daly Waters Airstrip | 35.6 | -0.5 | 43.3 | 11 Dec 2022 | 22.8 | +0.1 | 12.8 | 18 Apr 2023 | 873.4 | 665.4 | high | 131% |
| McArthur River Mine Airport | 36.3 | -0.4 | 42.7 | 23 Oct 2022 | 24.0 | +0.4 | 15.1 | 18 Apr 2023 | 785.0 | 762.0 | average | 103% |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Lajamanu Airport | 35.0 | -1.9 | 43.3 | 10 Dec 2022 | 22.4 | -0.1 | 11.3 | 18 Apr 2023 | 1274.8 | 496.8 | highest | 257% |
| Victoria River Downs | 36.5 | -0.1 | 44.4 | 24 Oct 2022 | 24.1 | +0.5 | 12.9 | 18 Apr 2023 | 925.2 | 644.6 | v high | 144% |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Tennant Creek Airport | 34.2 | -1.3 | 43.4 | 11 Dec 2022 | 22.6 | -0.9 | 11.5 | 17 Apr 2023 | 932.4 | 442.5 | v high | 211% |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 32.8 | -0.5 | 42.8 | 10 Dec 2022 | 17.7 | -0.2 | 5.1 | 30 Apr 2023 | 395.2 | 221.8 | high | 178% |
| Curtin Springs | 33.8 | -0.6 | 43.0 | 15 Feb 2023 | 7.0 | 30 Apr 2023 | 164.6 | 171.8 | average | 96% | ||
| Jervois | 34.4 | -1.0 | 44.9 | 7 Dec 2022 | 19.7 | +0.3 | 7.5 | 30 Apr 2023 | 343.4 | 235.7 | high | 146% |
| Territory Grape Farm | 33.5 | -1.5 | 43.3 | 11 Dec 2022 | 18.9 | -0.3 | 7.7 | 30 Apr 2023 | 360.8 | 249.4 | high | 145% |
| Walungurru Airport | 35.1 | -2.1 | 43.7 | 11 Dec 2022 | 22.3 | -1.6 | 10.4 | 1 Nov 2022 | 353.8 | 242.2 | high | 146% |
| Yulara Airport | 34.0 | -0.9 | 43.5 | 10 Dec 2022 | 19.3 | +0.2 | 8.3 | 1 Nov 2022 | 221.2 | 210.5 | average | 105% |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
The Seasonal 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 at 10 am on Monday 1 May 2023. 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.
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
