Northern Territory in October to April 2022-23

Rainfall

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 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

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


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




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%

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.


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Climate