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.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported

* 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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top