Climate for Station: Darwin Airport, Northern Territory, Australia

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Climate Analysis & Overview

Darwin Airport's climate profile reflects a nuanced interplay of warming and cooling trends, with a significant shift towards more evenly distributed rainfall. While all-time temperature trends indicate a warming pattern, recent decades have shown a cooling in high temperatures, highlighting the complexity of climate dynamics in this tropical region.

Tropical Climate Dynamics

Darwin Airport, located at -12.42° latitude and 130.89° longitude, falls under the tropical savanna climate category (Köppen classification Aw). This region experiences distinct wet and dry seasons, influenced by its proximity to the Timor Sea. The surrounding geography, with its coastal plains and nearby rivers, plays a critical role in modulating local weather patterns. The all-time temperature trends reveal a warming of 0.15°C (0.27°F) for high temperatures and 0.07°C (0.13°F) for low temperatures, indicating an overall rise in temperatures over the long term. This aligns with broader regional climate goals in Australia, which focus on understanding and adapting to warming trends.

Decadal Temperature Shifts

In the past decade, Darwin Airport has experienced a cooling trend in high temperatures, with a decrease of 0.05°C (0.09°F). This contrasts with the warming observed in low temperatures, which have increased by 0.23°C (0.41°F). Such divergent trends highlight the complexity of short-term climatic fluctuations, which may be influenced by localised weather events or broader atmospheric changes. These shifts underscore the necessity for continuous monitoring to understand the underlying drivers of these trends.

Precipitation Patterns and Distribution

The Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) at Darwin Airport has decreased from a baseline of 20.2 to a current value of 15.6. This significant change suggests that rainfall is now more evenly distributed throughout the year, rather than being concentrated in fewer, more intense events. For a region accustomed to dramatic wet seasons, this shift towards more consistent precipitation could have profound implications for water management and agricultural practices.

Temperature Extremes

Darwin Airport has recorded an all-time maximum temperature of 38.9°C (102.0°F) and a minimum of 10.4°C (50.7°F). These extremes illustrate the potential variability within the tropical climate zone. While these records provide a snapshot of the potential temperature range, the ongoing trends and shifts in precipitation patterns offer a more comprehensive understanding of the region's evolving climate profile.

Implications for Regional Climate Goals

Australia's regional climate goals emphasise the importance of adapting to both warming trends and shifts in precipitation patterns. The data from Darwin Airport, with its nuanced temperature changes and more evenly distributed rainfall, offers critical insights into the challenges and opportunities for climate adaptation in tropical regions. By focusing on these evolving patterns, policymakers and researchers can better strategise for sustainable development and climate resilience in the Northern Territory.

Station Statistics

10-Year Trend

High: -0.05 °C/decade

Low: +0.23 °C/decade

Rain: +0.46 mm/decade

25-Year Trend

High: +0.35 °C/decade

Low: +0.35 °C/decade

Rain: +0.11 mm/decade

50-Year Trend

High: +0.20 °C/decade

Low: +0.01 °C/decade

Rain: +0.02 mm/decade

All-Time Trend

High: +0.15 °C/decade

Low: +0.07 °C/decade

Rain: +0.08 mm/decade

Percentage Above-Average Days

Last 12 Months: 59.7%

This Year: 44.4%

Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) ℹ️

Last 12 Months: 16.5

Historical Average: 22.3

Percentile Rank of Last 12 Months ℹ️

High: 91st percentile

Low: 82nd percentile

Rain: 71st percentile

Change in Variance ℹ️

High: -4.5%

Low: -0.8%

Intraday: +13.0%

Data Coverage

87.9%

First Year of Data

1941

Station Location

Historical Weather Records

Max HighAvg HighMin HighMax AvgAvg AvgMin AvgMax LowAvg LowMin LowMax PrecipitationAvg PrecipitationMax SnowAvg Snow
Record38.9 °C22.7 °C31.9 °C17.9 °C30.2 °C10.4 °C290.4 mm
January36.1 °C31.8 °C25.7 °C31.6 °C28.3 °C24.4 °C29.9 °C24.9 °C20.2 °C290.4 mm13.9 mm
February36.0 °C31.5 °C24.8 °C31.1 °C28.1 °C23.9 °C30.0 °C24.8 °C17.2 °C250.2 mm13.1 mm
March36.0 °C32.0 °C25.7 °C31.0 °C28.1 °C24.6 °C29.2 °C24.6 °C19.2 °C240.6 mm10.0 mm
April36.7 °C32.8 °C25.8 °C30.3 °C28.0 °C23.1 °C28.3 °C24.1 °C18.0 °C142.7 mm3.3 mm
May36.0 °C32.1 °C24.4 °C29.7 °C26.8 °C21.1 °C26.6 °C22.2 °C13.8 °C58.4 mm0.4 mm
June35.0 °C30.8 °C22.7 °C28.7 °C25.2 °C17.9 °C25.6 °C20.0 °C12.1 °C29.7 mm0.0 mm
July35.0 °C30.7 °C23.4 °C29.9 °C24.9 °C19.1 °C26.6 °C19.3 °C10.4 °C9.7 mm0.0 mm
August36.8 °C31.5 °C25.1 °C29.4 °C25.8 °C20.7 °C25.6 °C20.3 °C13.0 °C80.0 mm0.1 mm
September38.0 °C32.7 °C26.8 °C31.2 °C27.9 °C22.7 °C27.4 °C23.0 °C14.4 °C70.6 mm0.4 mm
October38.9 °C33.4 °C26.4 °C31.9 °C29.2 °C24.6 °C29.2 °C25.0 °C19.0 °C95.5 mm2.1 mm
November37.3 °C33.4 °C27.9 °C31.6 °C29.4 °C23.9 °C29.7 °C25.3 °C19.3 °C105.0 mm4.8 mm
December37.1 °C32.8 °C25.0 °C31.6 °C28.9 °C23.9 °C30.2 °C25.4 °C19.8 °C277.0 mm8.2 mm

Data Visualisations

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Current Year Climate Trends vs Historical

Current Year Climate Trends vs Historical - Max Temperature this Year
Current Year Climate Trends vs Historical - Min Temperature this Year
Current Year Climate Trends vs Historical - Average Temperature this Year
Current Year Climate Trends vs Historical - Rainfall this Year
Current Year Climate Trends vs Historical - Relative Humidity this Year
Current Year Climate Trends vs Historical - Max Wind Gusts this Year

Max Temperature this Year | 1 of 6

Climate 12-Month Moving Averages

Climate 12-Month Moving Averages - Max Temperature 12-Month MA
Climate 12-Month Moving Averages - Min Temperature 12-Month MA
Climate 12-Month Moving Averages - Average Temperature 12-Month MA
Climate 12-Month Moving Averages - Rainfall 12-Month MA
Climate 12-Month Moving Averages - Relative Humidity 12-Month MA
Climate 12-Month Moving Averages - Peak Wind Gust 12-Month MA

Max Temperature 12-Month MA | 1 of 6

Daily Data Points and Averages Throughout the Year

Daily Data Points and Averages Throughout the Year - Average Max Temperature Throughout Year
Daily Data Points and Averages Throughout the Year - Average Min Temperature Throughout Year
Daily Data Points and Averages Throughout the Year - Average Temperature Throughout Year
Daily Data Points and Averages Throughout the Year - Average Relative Humidity Throughout Year
Daily Data Points and Averages Throughout the Year - Average Peak Wind Gust Throughout Year

Average Max Temperature Throughout Year | 1 of 5