Friday, 1 April 2022 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0

Northern Territory in March 2022: Warmest March on record

Mean maximum temperatures were very much above average (the top 10% of historical observations) across most of the Northern Territory, and the highest on record for the central regions. For the territory as a whole, the mean maximum temperature was more than three degrees above average, and the highest on record. Mean minimum temperatures were very much above average for the northern half of the territory. Rainfall was below average across most regions, and it was the tenth-driest March on record, and driest since 2009 for the territory.

Dry across most of the territory

• Rainfall was below average across most of the territory, with near average rainfall in the far south-east.
• March rainfall was 76% below the 1961-1990 average, the tenth-driest March on record, and driest since 2009.

Above average daytime temperatures across the territory

• Mean maximum temperatures were very much above average (the top 10% historical observations) across most of the territory.
• The territory's mean maximum temperature was 3.39 °C above the 1961-1990 average, the warmest March on record, and warmest since 2009.
• Mean minimum temperatures were very much above average for the northern half of the territory.
• The territory's mean minimum temperature was 1.27 °C above the 1961-1990 average, and the warmest since 2019.
• A severe to low-intensity heatwave hit the north-east and central parts of the territory at the start of March; a number of sites had their record high temperature on the 4th or 5th.
• A number of sites in the north and central regions had their highest March mean maximum temperature on record.
• Elliott in the Barkly District had 20 days in total with maximum temperatures at least 40 °C, which exceeded its previous March record count of 17 days in 1990.

Darwin Airport

• Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 176.2 mm, which is 57% of the long-term average of 310.7 mm.
• The 6-month (October 2021–March 2022) rainfall for Darwin Airport was 1448.0 mm, which is about 230.3 mm less than (86% of ) its average rainfall (1678.3 mm) for the Northern Wet Season (October–April).
• During the wet season, Darwin Airport had a dry October (22.6 mm, 32% of October average of 70.2 mm), a wet December (380 mm, 151% of December average of 252 mm), and a dry March.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 33.4 °C, which is 1.4 °C above the long-term average of 32.0 °C, the warmest March since 2019 (33.4 °C).
• The warmest day was 36.0 °C on the 9th, which equalled with the record warm day for March on 13 March 1942, and the coolest day was on the 17th when the temperature reached 31.2 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.7 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term average of 24.6 °C, the warmest March since 2016 (26.2 °C).
• The coldest morning was 22.6 °C on the 14th, and the warmest morning was on the 6th when the minimum temperature was 28.6 °C

Alice Springs Airport

• Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 0.2 mm, which is 1% of the long-term average of 31.9 mm, the driest March since 2017 (0.0 mm).
• The 6-month (October 2021–March 2022) rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 496.0 mm, which is about 278.4 mm more than (228% of ) its average rainfall (217.6 mm) for the Northern Wet Season (October–April).
• During the wet season, Alice Springs Airport had a record wet November (218.2 mm), a wet January (130 mm, 315% of its January average of 41.2 mm) ) and February (120.8 mm, 288% of its February average of 41.9 mm), and a dry March.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 35.3 °C, which is 2.5 °C above the long-term average of 32.8 °C, the warmest March since 2019 (36.2 °C).
• The warmest day was 40.2 °C, on the 3rd, and the coolest day was on the 31st when the temperature reached 29.9 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 17.2 °C, which is -0.4 °C below the long-term average of 17.6 °C, the coolest March since 2018 (17.2 °C).
• The coldest morning was 10.4 °C on the 27th, and the warmest morning was on the 17th when the minimum temperature was 25.4 °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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top