Monday 3 February 2025 - Monthly Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGC12R0
Northern Territory in January 2025
Rainfall
- Rainfall totals in January were below to very much below average for most of the eastern, central and Top End of the Northern Territory.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged rainfall total in January was 64.2 mm, 48% below the 1961–1990 average.
- It was the driest January in Northern Territory since 1994.
- The dry conditions are due to the monsoon onset for the season not occuring at Darwin prior to or during January. Despite tropical activity occuring, rainfall from monsoon bursts did not occur in the Northern Territory during January.
- Yeuralba Ridge recorded its highest January daily rainfall on record.
Temperature
- Mean maximum temperatures in January were above to very much above average for the Northern Territory, and the highest on record for the south-western corner and part of the eastern Northern Territory.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 39.5 °C, 3.11 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the second-warmest on record for all Januarys since 1910.
- The Northern Territory had its highest mean maximum temperature for January since 2019.
- A few sites had their highest January mean maximum temperature on record.
- Mean minimum temperatures in January were above to very much above average for most of the Northern Territory.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 24.9 °C, 1.17 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
- Ngayawili recorded its warmest January night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
- Centre Island and McCluer Island recorded their highest January mean minimum temperature on record.
- Ngayawili recorded its highest January mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean temperature was 32.2 °C, 2.14 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the third-warmest on record for all Januarys since 1910.
- McCluer Island recorded its highest January mean temperature on record.
- Dum In Mirrie Airstrip recorded its highest January mean temperature for at least 20 years.
Events
- Low to severe Heatwave conditions impacted the Northern Territory on several occaisions during January.
- For more details, visit the January national climate summary.
Darwin Airport
- Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 398.8 mm, which is 92% of the long-term average of 431.3 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 32.9 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term average of 31.8 °C.
- The warmest day was 34.4 °C on the 23rd, and the coolest day was on the 17th when the temperature reached 28.8 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.5 °C, which is 0.6 °C above the long-term average of 24.9 °C.
- The coldest morning was 23.3 °C on the 6th, and the warmest morning was on the 12th when the minimum temperature was 28.2 °C.
Alice Springs Airport
- Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 1.4 mm, which is 3% of the long-term average of 42.8 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 41.0 °C, which is 4.5 °C above the long-term average of 36.5 °C.
- The warmest day was 44.6 °C on the 27th, and the coolest day was on the 15th when the temperature reached 37.1 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 22.0 °C, which is 0.4 °C above the long-term average of 21.6 °C.
- The coldest morning was 15.4 °C on the 19th, and the warmest morning was on the 15th when the minimum temperature was 29.6 °C.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in January 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
46.2 °C at Jervois on the 27th |
| Warmest days on average |
42.4 °C at Walungurru Airport |
| Coolest days on average |
32.3 °C at Charles Point |
| Coldest day |
26.7 °C at Port Keats Airport on the 17th |
| Coldest night |
15.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport on the 19th |
| Coolest nights on average |
22.0 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Warmest nights on average |
28.5 °C at Centre Island |
| Warmest night |
32.2 °C at Jervois on the 12th |
| Warmest on average overall |
35.2 °C at Walungurru Airport |
| Coolest on average overall |
28.5 °C at Central Arnhem Plateau |
| Wettest overall |
485.6 mm at Port Keats Airport |
| Wettest day |
127.0 mm at Buley Rockhole on the 20th |
| Strongest wind gust |
130.0 km/h at Tindal RAAF on the 31st |
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
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record highest January daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for January |
|||
| Yeuralba Ridge | 87.6 | on the 17th | 85.6 | on 25 Jan 2021 | 23 | 253.6 |
| Record highest January mean maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for January |
||
| Borroloola Airport | 38.5 | 38.4 | in 2020 | 32 | 34.5 |
| Channel Point | 33.4 | 33.1 | in 2002 | 31 | 31.7 |
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 33.2 | 32.6 | in 2020 | 27 | 31.7 |
| McCluer Island | 32.4 | 32.1 | in 2016 | 25 | 31.4 |
| Record highest January daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for January |
|||
| Ngayawili | 30.2 | on the 15th | 30.0 | on 03 Jan 2018 | 26 | 25.8 |
| Record highest January mean minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for January |
||
| Centre Island | 28.5 | 28.4 | in 1994 | 51 | 26.8 |
| McCluer Island | 27.6 | 27.5 | in 2016 | 25 | 26.6 |
| Highest January mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Average for January |
|||
| Ngayawili | 26.5 | 26.6 | in 2002 | 25.8 | |
note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported
| Record highest January mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for January |
||
| McCluer Island | 30.0 | 29.8 | in 2016 | 25 | 29.0 |
| Highest January mean temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Average for January |
|||
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 29.4 | 30.1 | in 2002 | 28.7 | |
note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for January 2025 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for January 2025 |
Diff from average |
Highest for January 2025 |
Mean for January 2025 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for January 2025 |
Total for January 2025 |
Average for January |
Rank of January 2025 |
Fraction of January average |
|||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Airport | 33.9 | +1.2 | 35.6 | 30th | 24.0 | 0.0 | 22.0 | 4th | 272.0 | 337.1 | average | 81% |
| Central Arnhem Plateau | 33.5 | +1.8 | 36.3 | 4th | 23.5 | +0.2 | 21.8 | 25th | 372.0 | 282.1 | high | 132% |
| Channel Point | 33.4 | +1.7 | 34.9 | 12th | 25.1 | -0.1 | 22.2 | 7th | 371.8 | 466.8 | average | 80% |
| Charles Point | 32.3 | +0.9 | 33.9 | 5th | 25.8 | +0.2 | 23.1 | 29th | 186.4 | 438.4 | low | 42% |
| Croker Island Airport | 33.5 | +1.6 | 33.7 | 3rd | 26.4 | +0.4 | 23.5 | 4th | 42.8 | 364.1 | lowest | 12% |
| Darwin Airport | 32.9 | +1.1 | 34.4 | 23rd | 25.5 | +0.6 | 23.3 | 6th | 398.8 | 431.3 | average | 92% |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 36.8 | +2.2 | 41.4 | 1st | 24.2 | 0.0 | 20.9 | 6th | 159.8 | 215.5 | average | 74% |
| Douglas River Research Farm | 35.1 | +1.4 | 37.3 | 3rd | 24.0 | 0.0 | 21.7 | 4th | 273.6 | 296.0 | average | 92% |
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 33.2 | +1.5 | 34.7 | 3rd | 25.5 | -0.1 | 23.3 | 6th | 221.4 | 433.5 | low | 51% |
| East Point | 32.6 | 34.3 | 13th | 25.7 | 23.5 | 6th | 380.0 | |||||
| Jabiru Airport | 35.1 | +1.4 | 36.7 | 13th | 25.2 | +0.5 | 23.1 | 23rd | 216.6 | 359.1 | low | 60% |
| Kangaroo Flats (Defence) | 35.1 | 37.1 | 30th | 24.6 | 21.9 | 4th | 341.6 | |||||
| Knuckey Lagoon | 33.2 | 34.6 | 28th | 25.0 | 22.6 | 4th | 430.8 | |||||
| McCluer Island | 32.4 | +1.0 | 34.2 | 3rd | 27.6 | +1.0 | 24.9 | 31st | 161.6 | 258.1 | average | 63% |
| Middle Point | 34.8 | +1.4 | 37.7 | 28th | 24.6 | +0.3 | 21.8 | 4th | 314.0 | 309.2 | average | 102% |
| Mount Bundey North (Defence) | 35.0 | 37.0 | 3rd | 24.5 | 21.3 | 4th | 118.4 | |||||
| Mount Bundey South (Defence) | 35.2 | 37.1 | 13th | 24.7 | 22.4 | 4th | 205.6 | |||||
| Murganella Airstrip | 33.9 | +1.1 | 36.9 | 2nd | 24.7 | +0.1 | 23.4 | 4th | 230.0 | 369.3 | low | 62% |
| Noonamah Airstrip | 34.4 | +1.4 | 36.2 | 1st | 24.8 | 0.0 | 22.6 | 4th | 245.4 | 437.7 | low | 56% |
| Oenpelli Airport | 34.8 | +1.6 | 37.1 | 3rd | 25.4 | +0.3 | 23.3 | 6th | 174.4 | 394.0 | v low | 44% |
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 33.9 | +1.9 | 35.9 | 3rd | 24.9 | +0.2 | 23.0 | 2nd | 299.4 | 417.9 | low | 72% |
| Point Stuart | 33.6 | +1.0 | 36.4 | 2nd | 25.3 | +0.1 | 22.2 | 4th | 297.4 | 297.8 | average | 100% |
| Port Keats Airport | 33.7 | +1.1 | 37.6 | 3rd | 24.8 | -0.2 | 22.0 | 27th | 485.6 | 371.7 | average | 131% |
| Tindal RAAF | 36.6 | +2.4 | 39.6 | 1st | 24.2 | -0.2 | 22.1 | 8th | 265.6 | 260.6 | average | 102% |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Gove Airport | 33.2 | 35.1 | 14th | 25.7 | 23.1 | 18th | 236.2 | |||||
| Groote Eylandt Airport | 34.5 | +1.1 | 36.9 | 12th | 26.2 | +0.8 | 22.8 | 4th | 173.4 | 247.9 | average | 70% |
| Maningrida Airport | 33.7 | +1.2 | 35.5 | 2nd | 25.7 | +0.6 | 22.8 | 31st | 184.4 | 280.0 | low | 66% |
| Milingimbi Airport | 33.8 | +0.9 | 36.5 | 15th | 25.8 | +0.3 | 22.9 | 4th | 255.2 | 296.5 | average | 86% |
| Ngayawili | 32.5 | +0.7 | 34.0 | 15th | 26.5 | +0.7 | 22.9 | 4th | 52.4 | 359.1 | lowest | 15% |
| Warruwi Airport | 33.6 | +1.5 | 35.8 | 3rd | 26.7 | +1.0 | 24.7 | 18th | 85.8 | 265.0 | v low | 32% |
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola Airport | 38.5 | +4.0 | 43.0 | 20th | 25.5 | +0.5 | 23.4 | 7th | 87.0 | 207.8 | low | 42% |
| Bulman | 36.7 | +1.6 | 39.3 | 13th | 24.1 | -0.4 | 22.2 | 4th | 217.6 | 236.9 | average | 92% |
| Centre Island | 35.1 | +1.4 | 38.6 | 19th | 28.5 | +1.7 | 24.2 | 14th | 56.4 | 234.5 | low | 24% |
| Daly Waters Airstrip | 39.0 | +3.2 | 42.3 | 2nd | 23.5 | -0.6 | 19.5 | 1st | 94.2 | 167.3 | average | 56% |
| McArthur River Mine Airport | 38.5 | +2.5 | 42.7 | 20th | 25.1 | 0.0 | 20.3 | 3rd | 104.0 | 214.6 | low | 48% |
| Ngukurr Airport | 38.7 | +2.2 | 41.8 | 13th | 26.1 | +0.3 | 23.1 | 3rd | 65.6 | 176.5 | v low | 37% |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Bradshaw | 36.3 | +1.1 | 39.3 | 1st | 24.4 | -0.8 | 21.1 | 6th | 156.4 | 245.6 | average | 64% |
| Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) | 38.0 | 41.4 | 1st | 25.3 | 22.7 | 6th | 83.0 | |||||
| Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) | 36.7 | 40.1 | 1st | 24.3 | 22.6 | 31st | 215.8 | |||||
| Lajamanu Airport | 39.5 | +2.2 | 43.1 | 6th | 25.0 | +0.7 | 21.8 | 29th | 104.8 | 143.1 | average | 73% |
| Victoria River Downs | 38.8 | +2.3 | 42.9 | 3rd | 25.4 | +0.4 | 22.3 | 17th | 137.2 | 160.5 | average | 86% |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Elliott | 39.5 | +2.2 | 41.7 | 11th | 24.9 | +0.6 | 20.0 | 20th | 49.0 | 143.8 | low | 34% |
| Tennant Creek Airport | 40.3 | +3.6 | 42.9 | 24th | 25.7 | +0.7 | 22.1 | 19th | 25.0 | 120.4 | low | 21% |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 41.0 | +4.5 | 44.6 | 27th | 22.0 | +0.4 | 15.4 | 19th | 1.4 | 42.8 | v low | 3% |
| Curtin Springs | 41.4 | +3.5 | 45.2 | 27th | 23.8 | +1.3 | 19.6 | 18th | 3.2 | 29.2 | low | 11% |
| Jervois | 42.4 | +3.9 | 46.2 | 27th | 25.2 | +2.1 | 18.8 | 18th | 13.6 | 52.8 | average | 26% |
| Rabbit Flat | 40.9 | +2.4 | 44.0 | 6th | 24.0 | -0.2 | 18.9 | 3rd | 53.4 | 134.1 | low | 40% |
| Territory Grape Farm | 40.9 | +3.5 | 43.5 | 24th | 23.1 | +0.8 | 18.9 | 21st | 2.2 | 66.7 | lowest | 3% |
| Walungurru Airport | 42.4 | +3.1 | 46.2 | 26th | 28.1 | +1.8 | 22.4 | 4th | 9.0 | 54.0 | low | 17% |
| Watarrka | 41.3 | +3.0 | 43.9 | 27th | 24.8 | +1.3 | 21.2 | 15th | 25.1 | 45.5 | average | 55% |
| Yulara Airport | 41.4 | +3.0 | 44.4 | 27th | 24.4 | +1.4 | 20.4 | 4th | 17.6 | 29.8 | average | 59% |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
The Monthly 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 on Monday 3 February 2025. 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
