Friday 1 May 2026 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Northern Territory - Product code IDCKGCC2R0
Northern Territory in October to April 2025–26
Rainfall
- Rainfall totals during the northern wet season (October to April) were above to very much above average across the Northern Territory, including the highest on record for parts of the Katherine and Daly River catchments in the Top End.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged rainfall total during the northern wet season was 793.2 mm, 56% above the 1961–1990 average, the seventh-wettest on record for all northern wet seasons since 1900–01.
- Several sites had their highest northern wet season daily rainfall on record.
- Many sites had their highest total northern wet season rainfall on record.
Temperature
- Mean maximum temperatures during the northern wet season were below average for parts of the northern and eastern Northern Territory, and above to very much above average across the south.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 35.1 °C, 0.15 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
- Pirlangimpi Airport recorded its lowest northern wet season mean maximum temperature for at least 20 years.
- Mean minimum temperatures during the northern wet season were above to very much above average for most of the Northern Territory, including warmest on record for part of the south-west.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 23.0 °C, 0.96 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the tenth-warmest on record for all northern wet seasons since 1910.
- The Northern Territory had its highest mean minimum temperature for the northern wet season since 2024–25.
- The Northern Territory's area-averaged mean temperature was 29.1 °C, 0.56 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
Darwin Airport
- Total rainfall for Darwin Airport is estimated to be at least 2420 mm, around 144% of the long-term average of 1684.2 mm.
- Due to an equipment fault, daily rainfall at Darwin Airport was not recorded for 9, 18, 19 and 20 April. The missing total cannot be reliably estimated due to localised storm activity, however nearby gauges recorded at least 40 mm across the affected days.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Darwin Airport was 32.6 °C, which is 0.1 °C above the long-term average of 32.5 °C.
- The warmest day was 38.4 °C on the 4 Oct 2025, and the coolest day was on the 9 Mar 2026 when the temperature reached 26.0 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Darwin Airport was 25.1 °C, which is 0.2 °C above the long-term average of 24.9 °C.
- The coldest morning was 21.1 °C on the 29 Apr 2026, and the warmest morning was on the 30 Dec 2025 when the minimum temperature was 29.2 °C.
Alice Springs Airport
- Total rainfall for Alice Springs Airport was 427.8 mm, which is 193% of the long-term average of 221.7 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 34.1 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 33.4 °C.
- The warmest day was 43.8 °C on the 25 Jan 2026, and the coolest day was on the 28 Mar 2026 when the temperature reached 22.6 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Alice Springs Airport was 18.8 °C, which is 0.8 °C above the long-term average of 18.0 °C.
- The coldest morning was 5.7 °C on the 14 Apr 2026, and the warmest morning was on the 26 Jan 2026 when the minimum temperature was 31.5 °C.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in October to April 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
46.4 °C at Curtin Springs on 9 Jan 2026 |
| Warmest days on average |
37.6 °C at Rabbit Flat |
| Coolest days on average |
31.6 °C at Charles Point |
| Coldest day |
22.6 °C at Tennant Creek Airport on 3 Nov 2025 22.6 °C at Alice Springs Airport on 28 Mar 2026 |
| Coldest night |
5.7 °C at Alice Springs Airport on 14 Apr 2026 |
| Coolest nights on average |
18.8 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Warmest nights on average |
26.5 °C at Centre Island |
| Warmest night |
32.2 °C at Walungurru Airport on 10 Jan 2026 |
| Warmest on average overall |
30.8 °C at Walungurru Airport |
| Coolest on average overall |
26.4 °C at Alice Springs Airport |
| Wettest overall |
3283.7 mm at Awillaway Fly Creek |
| Wettest day |
430.0 mm at Middle Point on 23 Nov 2025 |
| Strongest wind gust |
137.0 km/h at Territory Grape Farm on 2 Nov 2025 |
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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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record highest October to April daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October to April |
|||
| Ammaroo | 164.0 | on 23 Feb 2026 | 163.6 | on 06 Mar 1972 | 69 | 262.5 |
| Middle Point Rangers | 248.8 | on 23 Nov 2025 | 242.3 | on 29 Dec 1965 | 61 | 1303.7 |
| Gilnockie | 183.0 | on 2 Feb 2026 | 151.0 | on 18 Feb 2017 | 37 | 811.1 |
| Wandie Creek | 169.0 | on 6 Mar 2026 | 136.8 | on 05 Jan 2008 | 36 | 975.9 |
| Berry Springs Rangers | 255.0 | on 25 Nov 2025 | 216.0 | on 26 Apr 2006 | 34 | 1296.6 |
| Upper Fergusson River | 218.8 | on 6 Mar 2026 | 218.6 | on 27 Jan 1998 | 27 | 1151.5 |
| Wongalara | 189.0 | on 31 Jan 2026 | 171.4 | on 07 Apr 2001 | 25 | 803.1 |
| Middle Point | 430.0 | on 23 Nov 2025 | 142.0 | on 15 Feb 2011 | 24 | 1332.4 |
| Awillaway Fly Creek | 319.0 | on 23 Nov 2025 | 304.0 | on 26 Apr 2006 | 20 | 1727.9 |
| Record highest October to April total rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October to April |
||
| Old Delamere | 1676.2 | 1306.8 | in 2004 | 65 | 652.1 |
| Tipperary | 2410.0 | 2227.2 | in 1943 | 62 | 1128.2 |
| Douglas River Research Farm | 2159.8 | 1941.8 | in 2011 | 55 | 1110.9 |
| Humpty Doo Collard Road | 2768.9 | 2665.0 | in 1989 | 44 | 1793.2 |
| Bullo River | 1807.3 | 1476.8 | in 2024 | 37 | 757.2 |
| Wandie Creek | 1914.0 | 1607.2 | in 2024 | 36 | 975.9 |
| Berry Springs Rangers | 2572.2 | 2337.9 | in 1997 | 34 | 1296.6 |
| Territory Wildlife Park | 2668.9 | 2307.7 | in 1997 | 34 | 1609.7 |
| Moroak | 1514.5 | 1400.4 | in 2024 | 32 | 786.3 |
| Batchelor Airport | 2433.8 | 2355.6 | in 2011 | 31 | 1400.3 |
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 2547.4 | 2327.0 | in 2000 | 30 | 1605.7 |
| Upper Fergusson River | 2066.2 | 1710.4 | in 2006 | 27 | 1151.5 |
| Port Keats Airport | 2491.4 | 2123.4 | in 2014 | 26 | 1246.1 |
| Lakefield | 1590.2 | 1521.6 | in 2011 | 25 | 956.1 |
| West Waterhouse | 1454.6 | 1341.8 | in 2021 | 23 | 869.5 |
| Yeuralba Ridge | 1979.4 | 1843.2 | in 2011 | 23 | 1021.7 |
| Foelsche Headland | 1594.2 | 1588.2 | in 2024 | 22 | 969.3 |
| Upper Seventeen Mile Creek | 1785.6 | 1748.2 | in 2004 | 22 | 1045.3 |
| Edith Falls Ridge | 2094.4 | 1767.8 | in 2004 | 22 | 1006.6 |
| Buley Rockhole | 2932.6 | 2498.5 | in 2011 | 22 | 1331.0 |
| Central Waterhouse | 1470.2 | 1328.0 | in 2011 | 20 | 941.2 |
| Mount Felix | 1927.6 | 1683.0 | in 2011 | 20 | 1025.9 |
| East Arm | 2438.5 | 2270.6 | in 2011 | 20 | 1299.4 |
| Awillaway Fly Creek | 3283.7 | 2934.4 | in 2011 | 20 | 1727.9 |
| Lowest October to April mean maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for October to April |
|||
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 32.5 | 32.3 | in 2002 | 32.8 | |
note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent lower values have gone unreported
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for October to April 2026 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for October to April 2026 |
Diff from average |
Highest for October to April 2026 |
Mean for October to April 2026 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for October to April 2026 |
Total for October to April 2026 |
Average for October to April |
Rank of October to April 2026 |
Fraction of October to April average |
|||
| Darwin-Daly (district 14GA) | ||||||||||||
| Batchelor Airport | 33.0 | -1.2 | 40.1 | 4 Oct 2025 | 23.6 | +0.1 | 17.9 | 15 Apr 2026 | 2433.8 | 1400.3 | highest | 174% |
| Central Arnhem Plateau | 38.1 | 24 Oct 2025 | 17.6 | 5 Oct 2025 | 1845.6 | 1165.1 | high | 158% | ||||
| Channel Point | 36.0 | 15 Oct 2025 | 20.8 | 15 Apr 2026 | 2458.1 | 1776.5 | high | 138% | ||||
| Charles Point | 31.6 | -0.6 | 35.6 | 4 Oct 2025 | 25.3 | -0.5 | 20.8 | 29 Apr 2026 | 2493.6 | 1409.4 | highest | 177% |
| Croker Island Airport | 32.3 | -0.4 | 36.2 | 10 Nov 2025 | 25.4 | -0.3 | 21.1 | 23 Oct 2025 | 1209.2 | 1228.7 | average | 98% |
| Darwin Airport | 32.6 | +0.1 | 38.4 | 4 Oct 2025 | 25.1 | +0.2 | 21.1 | 29 Apr 2026 | 2397.4* | 1684.2 | ||
| Delamere Weapons Range | 35.0 | -0.7 | 40.8 | 2 Nov 2025 | 23.9 | +0.1 | 14.3 | 28 Apr 2026 | 1214.0 | 867.5 | high | 140% |
| Douglas River Research Farm | 34.0 | -1.2 | 39.7 | 4 Oct 2025 | 23.5 | +0.3 | 16.4 | 28 Apr 2026 | 2159.8 | 1110.9 | highest | 194% |
| Dum In Mirrie Airstrip | 32.6 | +0.1 | 36.2 | 5 Nov 2025 | 25.0 | -0.5 | 18.6 | 29 Apr 2026 | 2547.4 | 1605.7 | highest | 159% |
| East Point | 32.0 | 38.0 | 4 Oct 2025 | 25.2 | 20.8 | 29 Apr 2026 | 2562.0 | |||||
| Jabiru Airport | 34.5 | -0.6 | 40.1 | 4 Oct 2025 | 24.8 | +0.3 | 20.9 | 15 Apr 2026 | 1782.2 | 1451.5 | high | 123% |
| Kangaroo Flats (Defence) | 34.0 | 40.7 | 4 Oct 2025 | 24.3 | 19.3 | 29 Apr 2026 | 2398.8 | |||||
| Knuckey Lagoon | 33.1 | 38.8 | 4 Oct 2025 | 24.5 | 19.4 | 29 Apr 2026 | 2626.4 | |||||
| Middle Point | 33.7 | -1.1 | 40.3 | 3 Oct 2025 | 24.0 | +0.4 | 18.4 | 29 Apr 2026 | 2231.8 | 1332.4 | high | 168% |
| Mount Bundey North (Defence) | 40.2 | 4 Oct 2025 | 19.9 | 28 Apr 2026 | 1594.0 | |||||||
| Mount Bundey South (Defence) | 34.3 | 40.7 | 4 Oct 2025 | 24.1 | 17.3 | 29 Apr 2026 | 661.2 | |||||
| Murganella Airstrip | 32.9 | -0.8 | 38.0 | 29 Oct 2025 | 23.8 | +0.1 | 17.3 | 23 Oct 2025 | 2227.0 | 1107.1 | highest | 201% |
| Noonamah Airstrip | 40.8 | 4 Oct 2025 | 18.8 | 29 Apr 2026 | 2374.8 | 1516.8 | highest | 157% | ||||
| Oenpelli Airport | 33.9 | -1.4 | 39.9 | 4 Oct 2025 | 24.6 | -0.1 | 20.3 | 15 Apr 2026 | 1244.6 | 1277.3 | average | 97% |
| Pirlangimpi Airport | 32.5 | -0.3 | 38.4 | 2 Oct 2025 | 18.8 | 29 Apr 2026 | 2125.2 | 1789.1 | average | 119% | ||
| Point Stuart | 32.9 | -0.6 | 37.2 | 28 Oct 2025 | 25.1 | +0.1 | 21.6 | 23 Oct 2025 | 1922.4 | 1189.3 | high | 162% |
| Port Keats Airport | 32.9 | -0.8 | 39.2 | 4 Oct 2025 | 24.5 | -0.1 | 18.1 | 16 Apr 2026 | 2491.4 | 1246.1 | highest | 200% |
| Tindal RAAF | 35.0 | -0.5 | 41.2 | 23 Oct 2025 | 23.8 | 0.0 | 15.0 | 28 Apr 2026 | 1375.4 | 988.4 | high | 139% |
| Arnhem (district 14BC) | ||||||||||||
| Gove Airport | 32.2 | 36.2 | 29 Nov 2025 | 24.6 | 19.9 | 7 Oct 2025 | 1462.2 | |||||
| Groote Eylandt Airport | 33.4 | -0.2 | 38.0 | 28 Oct 2025 | 24.2 | +0.4 | 17.3 | 7 Oct 2025 | 1626.0 | 1259.4 | high | 129% |
| Maningrida Airport | 32.5 | -0.4 | 36.5 | 4 Oct 2025 | 24.6 | +0.1 | 19.0 | 5 Oct 2025 | 1450.4 | 1135.6 | high | 128% |
| Milingimbi Airport | 32.8 | -0.3 | 36.6 | 4 Oct 2025 | 24.9 | -0.1 | 20.4 | 5 Oct 2025 | 1488.8 | 1132.6 | high | 131% |
| Ngayawili | 31.9 | -0.4 | 37.6 | 4 Oct 2025 | 25.1 | +0.3 | 19.7 | 7 Oct 2025 | 1125.0 | 1332.8 | average | 84% |
| Warruwi Airport | 36.7 | 1 Nov 2025 | 22.1 | 11 Apr 2026 | 1088.8 | 1074.7 | average | 101% | ||||
| Roper-Mcarthur (district 14DE) | ||||||||||||
| Borroloola Airport | 35.1 | -0.4 | 41.4 | 27 Nov 2025 | 23.8 | +0.3 | 13.2 | 14 Apr 2026 | 1348.2 | 845.5 | high | 160% |
| Bulman | 35.7 | -0.5 | 41.3 | 28 Oct 2025 | 23.5 | 0.0 | 13.2 | 5 Oct 2025 | 1224.8 | 972.6 | average | 126% |
| Centre Island | 33.2 | -0.4 | 37.6 | 12 Jan 2026 | 26.5 | +0.1 | 23.0 | 28 Apr 2026 | 1433.8 | 1034.6 | high | 139% |
| Daly Waters Airstrip | 41.8 | 2 Nov 2025 | 22.8 | +0.1 | 11.8 | 28 Apr 2026 | 1169.0 | 675.0 | high | 173% | ||
| McArthur River Mine Airport | 35.9 | -0.8 | 41.4 | 24 Oct 2025 | 23.9 | +0.2 | 14.8 | 5 Oct 2025 | 1290.0 | 770.6 | high | 167% |
| Ngukurr Airport | 35.8 | -1.6 | 42.3 | 23 Oct 2025 | 24.6 | -0.1 | 15.4 | 5 Oct 2025 | 1460.2 | 718.3 | highest | 203% |
| Victoria (district 14F) | ||||||||||||
| Bradshaw | 36.0 | -0.8 | 41.7 | 23 Oct 2025 | 24.5 | -0.3 | 16.1 | 15 Apr 2026 | 1605.8 | 900.5 | high | 178% |
| Bradshaw - Angallari Valley (Defence) | 42.7 | 28 Oct 2025 | 17.3 | 15 Apr 2026 | 1200.2 | |||||||
| Bradshaw - Koolendong Valley (Defence) | 35.2 | 41.8 | 4 Dec 2025 | 23.9 | 15.1 | 29 Apr 2026 | 1568.2 | |||||
| Lajamanu Airport | 36.5 | -0.4 | 43.9 | 20 Jan 2026 | 23.4 | +0.9 | 11.8 | 15 Apr 2026 | 788.6 | 518.6 | high | 152% |
| Victoria River Downs | 36.5 | -0.2 | 42.8 | 23 Oct 2025 | 24.2 | +0.6 | 13.5 | 14 Apr 2026 | 1082.0 | 651.4 | high | 166% |
| Barkly (district 15A) | ||||||||||||
| Elliott | 42.2 | 31 Oct 2025 | 15.2 | 28 Apr 2026 | 724.1 | 559.8 | high | 129% | ||||
| Tennant Creek Airport | 35.3 | -0.2 | 43.0 | 20 Jan 2026 | 23.5 | 0.0 | 14.0 | 14 Apr 2026 | 650.4 | 446.4 | high | 146% |
| Alice Springs (district 15B) | ||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Airport | 34.1 | +0.7 | 43.8 | 25 Jan 2026 | 18.8 | +0.8 | 5.7 | 14 Apr 2026 | 427.8 | 221.7 | high | 193% |
| Curtin Springs | 46.4 | 9 Jan 2026 | 8.2 | 27 Apr 2026 | 245.8 | 167.9 | high | 146% | ||||
| Jervois | 35.7 | +0.3 | 44.5 | 6 Dec 2025 | 9.7 | 4 Nov 2025 | 606.4 | 235.9 | high | 257% | ||
| Rabbit Flat | 37.6 | +0.1 | 45.4 | 20 Jan 2026 | 21.8 | +0.2 | 8.7 | 15 Apr 2026 | 621.8 | 452.4 | high | 137% |
| Territory Grape Farm | 35.3 | +0.3 | 42.6 | 25 Jan 2026 | 19.7 | +0.4 | 9.1 | 21 Apr 2026 | 389.4 | 264.2 | high | 147% |
| Walungurru Airport | 37.4 | +0.3 | 45.5 | 19 Jan 2026 | 24.1 | +0.3 | 16.1 | 16 Apr 2026 | 340.4 | 235.2 | high | 145% |
| Watarrka | 43.5 | 8 Jan 2026 | 156.1 | 240.3 | low | 65% | ||||||
| Yulara Airport | 35.7 | +0.8 | 45.6 | 9 Jan 2026 | 20.7 | +1.5 | 9.8 | 22 Apr 2026 | 364.8 | 202.5 | high | 180% |
*note: there are gaps in the October to April rainfall record at Darwin Airport, with four days of missing observations.
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 Friday 1 May 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
