Thursday 1 October 2026 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGCC2R0
Northern Territory in May to September 2026
Rainfall
- Rainfall totals during the northern dry season (May to September) were above to very much above average for most of the southern and eastern Northern Territory and scattered areas of the Top End.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged rainfall total during the northern dry season was 47.8 mm, 28% above the 1961–1990 average.
Temperature
- Mean maximum temperatures during the northern dry season were above to very much above average for most of the northern, eastern and southern Northern Territory.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 28.6 °C, 1.05 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
- Middle Point had itscoolest northern dry season day (lowest daily maximum temperature) on record on 19 June.
- Mean minimum temperatures during the northern dry season were above to very much above average for most of the Northern Territory, including highest on record for the south-west corner of the Northern Territory.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 14.6 °C, 1.17 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
- Pirlangimpi Airport recorded its warmest northern dry season night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record on 11 May.
- Yulara Airport recorded its highest northern dry season mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean temperature was 21.6 °C, 1.11 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
Darwin Airport
- Total rainfall for Darwin Airport was 13.2 mm, which is 30% of the long-term average of 44.6 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 32.4 °C, which is 0.8 °C above the long-term average of 31.6 °C.
- The warmest day was 36.0 °C on the 16 Sep 2026, and the coolest day was on the 19 Jun 2026 when the temperature reached 25.5 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 21.7 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 21.0 °C.
- The coldest morning was 16.5 °C on the 29 Jul 2026, and the warmest morning was on the 13 May 2026 when the minimum temperature was 26.5 °C.
Alice Springs Airport
- Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 104.6 mm, which is 169% of the long-term average of 61.8 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 23.4 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 22.7 °C.
- The warmest day was 35.0 °C on the 30 Sep 2026, and the coolest day was on the 4 Jul 2026 when the temperature reached 12.1 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 7.3 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 6.6 °C.
- The coldest morning was -3.2 °C on the 26 Jul 2026, and the warmest morning was on the 4 Sep 2026 when the minimum temperature was 20.4 °C.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in May to September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
39.8 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) on 9 September |
| Warmest days on average |
34.6 °C at Oenpelli Airport |
| Coolest days on average |
23.2 °C at Yulara Airport |
| Coldest day |
12.1 °C at Alice Springs Airport on 4 July |
| Coldest night |
-3.2 °C at Alice Springs Airport on 26 July |
| Coolest nights on average |
7.3 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Warmest nights on average |
23.0 °C at Warruwi Airport |
| Warmest night |
27.5 °C at Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) on 15 September |
| Warmest on average overall |
27.5 °C at Jabiru Airport |
| Coolest on average overall |
15.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Wettest overall |
186.2 mm at Gove Airport |
| Wettest day |
48.6 mm at Old Delamere on 18 May |
| Strongest wind gust |
72.0 km/h at Alice Springs Airport on 23 August |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
| Total rainfall |
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| Mean daily maximum temperatures |
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| Mean daily minimum temperatures |
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Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record lowest May to September daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for May to September |
|||
| Middle Point | 23.0 | on 19 June | 23.2 | on 17 Aug 2007 | 26 | 33.9 |
| Record highest May to September daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for May to September |
|||
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 26.3 | on 11 May | 26.2 | on 17 May 2010 | 44 | 20.0 |
| Highest May to September mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Average for May to September |
|||
| Yulara Airport | 9.3 | 9.7 | in 1998 | 7.3 | |
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 May to September 2026 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for May to September 2026 |
Diff from average |
Highest for May to September 2026 |
Mean for May to September 2026 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for May to September 2026 |
Total for May to September 2026 |
Average for May to September |
Rank of May to September 2026 |
Fraction of May to September average |
|||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Airport | 33.1 | -0.2 | 37.1 | 11 Sep 2026 | 18.9 | +0.8 | 12.9 | 29 Jul 2026 | 24.2 | 36.8 | average | 66% |
| Central Arnhem Plateau | 30.8 | +0.1 | 35.4 | 8 Sep 2026 | 17.9 | +0.5 | 10.6 | 29 Jul 2026 | 1.0 | 18.3 | average | 6% |
| Channel Point | 36.5 | 27 Sep 2026 | 15.0 | 8 Jun 2026 | 0.6 | 28.4 | low | 2% | ||||
| Charles Point | 30.6 | -0.1 | 35.4 | 19 Jul 2026 | 22.2 | +0.1 | 17.0 | 29 Jul 2026 | 43.4 | 45.8 | average | 95% |
| Croker Island Airport | 30.9 | -0.2 | 33.5 | 6 Sep 2026 | 22.4 | +0.1 | 17.4 | 29 Jul 2026 | 0.0 | 14.8 | lowest | 0% |
| Darwin Airport | 32.4 | +0.8 | 36.0 | 16 Sep 2026 | 21.7 | +0.7 | 16.5 | 29 Jul 2026 | 13.2 | 44.6 | average | 30% |
| Delamere Weapons Range | 31.4 | -0.3 | 37.1 | 8 Sep 2026 | 17.6 | +0.5 | 9.9 | 19 Jul 2026 | 9.0 | 13.8 | average | 65% |
| Douglas River Research Farm | 33.8 | +0.2 | 38.7 | 24 Sep 2026 | 16.7 | +1.4 | 7.3 | 20 Jul 2026 | 13.4 | 19.0 | average | 70% |
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 36.9 | 17 Sep 2026 | 12.8 | 29 Jul 2026 | 73.0 | 44.5 | high | 164% | ||||
| East Point | 31.9 | 35.8 | 17 Sep 2026 | 21.8 | 17.0 | 18 Jul 2026 | 49.0 | |||||
| Jabiru Airport | 34.0 | +0.4 | 37.9 | 8 Sep 2026 | 20.9 | +0.6 | 14.8 | 29 Jul 2026 | 17.2 | 34.4 | average | 50% |
| Kangaroo Flats (Defence) | 33.8 | 37.9 | 9 Sep 2026 | 20.4 | 13.1 | 29 Jul 2026 | 40.6 | |||||
| Knuckey Lagoon | 32.6 | 36.5 | 14 Sep 2026 | 19.7 | 13.3 | 22 Jul 2026 | 26.4 | |||||
| Middle Point | 33.9 | 0.0 | 38.5 | 8 Sep 2026 | 17.8 | +1.0 | 7.8 | 29 Jul 2026 | 20.8 | 37.9 | average | 55% |
| Mount Bundey North (Defence) | 33.5 | 37.7 | 8 Sep 2026 | 20.4 | 14.6 | 19 Jul 2026 | 29.4 | |||||
| Mount Bundey South (Defence) | 33.7 | 38.2 | 8 Sep 2026 | 18.6 | 10.7 | 29 Jul 2026 | 13.6 | |||||
| Murganella Airstrip | 31.4 | -0.6 | 34.4 | 8 Sep 2026 | 19.3 | +0.9 | 10.4 | 29 Jul 2026 | 20.2 | 32.5 | average | 62% |
| Noonamah Airstrip | 34.1 | -0.1 | 38.0 | 8 Sep 2026 | 19.2 | +0.7 | 10.5 | 29 Jul 2026 | 33.8 | 34.9 | high | 97% |
| Oenpelli Airport | 34.6 | 0.0 | 37.8 | 25 Sep 2026 | 20.1 | -0.3 | 13.1 | 28 Jul 2026 | 0.4 | 35.2 | low | 1% |
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 32.1 | -0.2 | 35.4 | 25 Sep 2026 | 20.8 | +0.8 | 14.8 | 30 Jul 2026 | 90.2 | 60.1 | high | 150% |
| Point Stuart | 31.4 | -0.8 | 34.3 | 29 Sep 2026 | 20.9 | +1.0 | 13.2 | 29 Jul 2026 | 20.6 | 34.3 | average | 60% |
| Port Keats Airport | 32.0 | -0.3 | 35.6 | 28 Aug 2026 | 19.3 | +0.9 | 12.5 | 30 May 2026 | 65.8 | 29.3 | high | 224% |
| Tindal RAAF | 32.3 | 0.0 | 37.8 | 8 Sep 2026 | 16.9 | +0.8 | 9.4 | 19 Jul 2026 | 0.2 | 19.2 | low | 1% |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Gove Airport | 29.5 | 31.7 | 8 Sep 2026 | 20.8 | 16.5 | 30 May 2026 | 186.2 | |||||
| Groote Eylandt Airport | 30.3 | 0.0 | 33.7 | 6 Sep 2026 | 17.4 | +0.2 | 10.5 | 28 Jul 2026 | 17.2 | 46.2 | average | 37% |
| Maningrida Airport | 31.4 | -0.1 | 33.9 | 27 Aug 2026 | 20.1 | +0.3 | 13.9 | 29 Jul 2026 | 14.0 | 35.8 | average | 39% |
| Milingimbi Airport | 31.6 | +0.2 | 34.9 | 27 Aug 2026 | 20.7 | +0.1 | 14.7 | 29 Jul 2026 | 20.8 | 39.5 | average | 53% |
| Ngayawili | 30.8 | +0.1 | 33.1 | 29 Aug 2026 | 21.0 | +0.3 | 17.3 | 1 Jun 2026 | 20.8 | 39.0 | average | 53% |
| Warruwi Airport | 29.9 | 0.0 | 32.8 | 8 Sep 2026 | 23.0 | +0.4 | 18.8 | 29 Jul 2026 | 26.6 | 22.4 | high | 119% |
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola Airport | 32.4 | +0.2 | 38.1 | 7 Sep 2026 | 15.6 | +1.2 | 4.9 | 7 Jun 2026 | 8.4 | 13.1 | average | 64% |
| Bulman | 32.7 | 0.0 | 38.1 | 8 Sep 2026 | 16.6 | +0.4 | 8.1 | 19 Jul 2026 | 14.8 | 28.6 | average | 52% |
| Centre Island | 28.9 | +0.7 | 33.8 | 8 Sep 2026 | 21.6 | +1.1 | 17.1 | 27 Jul 2026 | 21.2 | 17.9 | high | 118% |
| Daly Waters Airstrip | 38.6 | 8 Sep 2026 | 4.2 | 28 Jul 2026 | 0.2 | 13.8 | low | 1% | ||||
| McArthur River Mine Airport | 32.5 | +0.4 | 38.0 | 7 Sep 2026 | 15.6 | +1.0 | 6.2 | 18 Jul 2026 | 4.4 | 11.4 | average | 39% |
| Ngukurr Airport | 32.8 | -0.2 | 38.4 | 9 Sep 2026 | 17.5 | +0.9 | 8.1 | 28 Jul 2026 | 2.8 | 14.2 | average | 20% |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Bradshaw | 33.7 | -0.1 | 39.4 | 10 Sep 2026 | 18.0 | +0.2 | 7.6 | 29 Jul 2026 | 5.0 | 16.2 | average | 31% |
| Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) | 33.5 | 39.8 | 9 Sep 2026 | 19.5 | 10.4 | 29 Jul 2026 | 0.4 | |||||
| Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) | 33.6 | 39.3 | 10 Sep 2026 | 14.5 | 3.8 | 29 Jul 2026 | 0.2 | |||||
| Lajamanu Airport | 29.8 | +0.1 | 37.6 | 9 Sep 2026 | 13.8 | +1.5 | 2.6 | 28 Jul 2026 | 32.0 | 24.1 | average | 133% |
| Victoria River Downs | 32.6 | +0.8 | 38.5 | 8 Sep 2026 | 15.0 | +1.0 | 5.6 | 19 Jul 2026 | 2.6 | 16.5 | average | 16% |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Elliott | 38.5 | 8 Sep 2026 | 7.0 | 28 Jul 2026 | 4.6 | 20.8 | average | 22% | ||||
| Tennant Creek Airport | 27.9 | +0.6 | 35.7 | 30 Sep 2026 | 15.7 | +0.8 | 6.6 | 28 Jul 2026 | 50.4 | 31.1 | high | 162% |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 23.4 | +0.7 | 35.0 | 30 Sep 2026 | 7.3 | +0.7 | -3.2 | 26 Jul 2026 | 104.6 | 61.8 | high | 169% |
| Curtin Springs | 35.6 | 29 Sep 2026 | -2.3 | 27 Jul 2026 | 37.4 | 59.2 | average | 63% | ||||
| Jervois | 25.3 | +0.4 | 36.0 | 30 Sep 2026 | 9.8 | +1.7 | 1.0 | 27 Jul 2026 | 101.6 | 53.9 | high | 189% |
| Rabbit Flat | 29.1 | +0.1 | 37.6 | 30 Sep 2026 | 10.6 | +0.8 | -1.3 | 28 Jul 2026 | 13.4 | 34.8 | average | 38% |
| Territory Grape Farm | 25.1 | -0.3 | 33.9 | 14 Sep 2026 | 9.0 | +1.0 | -0.2 | 10 Aug 2026 | 124.0 | 49.8 | high | 249% |
| Walungurru Airport | 26.3 | -0.2 | 36.6 | 29 Sep 2026 | 14.0 | +0.7 | 6.5 | 10 Aug 2026 | 96.6 | 47.3 | high | 204% |
| Watarrka | 34.0 | 7 Sep 2026 | -2.0 | 10 Aug 2026 | 90.7 | 59.7 | high | 152% | ||||
| Yulara Airport | 23.2 | -0.5 | 35.4 | 29 Sep 2026 | 9.3 | +2.0 | -1.4 | 27 Jul 2026 | 110.8 | 60.0 | high | 185% |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
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 on Thursday 1 October 2026. 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, excluding the current year. The length of record can
vary widely from site to site. Averages are not shown for sites with fewer 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
