Climate of Nhulunbuy (Gove) Area |
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Nhulunbuy is Australia’s northernmost
Meteorological Office, located deep in the tropics.
Nhulunbuy’s wettest months are typically December to
April, when the northwest monsoon can be active.
Thunderstorms are common, and heavy rainfall events can occur
during this time, particularly when a tropical cyclone is
nearby. From May to September, cooler and drier southeasterly
winds prevail. Surges in these southeasterly winds can
produce sustained strong wind events and result in rough seas
on the coast.
The driest months in Nhulunbuy are typically August to October. |
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Tropical Cyclones
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Despite the drier winds, morning
rain showers are quite common through to July. These result
from "Gulf Lines", which originate from converging sea
breezes over the Cape York peninsula and then propagate
across the Gulf on the prevailing south-easterly winds. These
semi regular showers and relatively cool winds off the Gulf
of Carpentaria give Nhulunbuy a relatively mild climate,
compared to other Top End locations further west.
The cyclone season in northern
Australia is November to April (inclusive), and tropical
cyclones are a possibility at any time during this period.
Since the first recorded instance of a cyclone affecting the
Gove Peninsula in February 1948, several cyclones have made
their presence felt in the area: