Climate for Station: Alice Springs Airport, Northern Territory, Australia

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Alice Springs

Northern Territory, Australia

2026-03-01 12:01

28.4°C

Feels 29.8°C

H: 30.8°C / L: 22.4°C

Precip: 1.2mm | Wind: 16.6 kph

▼ 3.1°C vs historical high

Overcast

2026-03-02

H: 25.5°C

L: 22.2°C

Rain: 91%

Rainfall: 29.56mm

Wind: 25.2kph

▼ 8.5°C

2026-03-03

H: 29.1°C

L: 22.7°C

Rain: 85%

Rainfall: 15.21mm

Wind: 29.5kph

▼ 5.3°C

2026-03-04

H: 31.7°C

L: 22.4°C

Rain: 86%

Rainfall: 2.89mm

Wind: 37.1kph

▼ 2.4°C

2026-03-05

H: 32.4°C

L: 23.7°C

Rain: 88%

Rainfall: 0.37mm

Wind: 38.5kph

▼ 1.6°C

2026-03-06

H: 33.9°C

L: 24.6°C

Rain: 0%

Rainfall: 0mm

Wind: 34.6kph

▲ 0.2°C

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Climate Analysis & Overview

Alice Springs Airport experiences a complex climate narrative marked by contrasting short-term cooling and long-term warming trends. Despite a recent decrease in temperature extremes, the all-time data indicates a warming trajectory, while precipitation patterns have become more evenly distributed.

Desert Climate Dynamics

Alice Springs Airport, located at -23.7951, 133.889, sits in the heart of Australia's arid interior, classified under the Köppen climate system as a hot desert climate (BWh). This classification is characterised by high temperatures and low precipitation, influenced by the surrounding desert landscape. The region's geography contributes to significant temperature variability and sparse rainfall, making it sensitive to climatic shifts.

Temperature Trends: A Tale of Two Timelines

Examining temperature trends reveals an intriguing divergence. Over the past decade, the airport has experienced a cooling trend, with high temperatures decreasing by 0.26°C (0.47°F) and lows by 0.14°C (0.24°F). However, when considering the all-time data, the narrative shifts to a warming trend. Highs have increased by 0.25°C (0.45°F), while lows have risen by a modest 0.03°C (0.05°F). This indicates a longer-term warming pattern, despite recent cooling, which may be influenced by broader climatic factors affecting the region.

Record Extremes: Heat and Cold

Alice Springs Airport has recorded some of the most extreme temperatures in Australia, with a maximum of 46.0°C (114.8°F) and a minimum of -7.5°C (18.5°F). These extremes underscore the volatility of the desert climate, where temperatures can swing dramatically between day and night, and between seasons.

Precipitation Patterns: A More Even Distribution

The Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) at Alice Springs Airport has decreased from a baseline of 26.07 to a current value of 20.16. This significant change suggests a shift towards more evenly distributed rainfall events, rather than the highly concentrated and sporadic rainfall typically associated with desert climates. A PCI over 20 still indicates a concentration, but the reduction points to less variability in precipitation distribution.

Regional Climate Considerations

Australia's commitment to climate resilience and adaptation is particularly relevant for regions like Alice Springs. Recent weather events, such as prolonged droughts and heatwaves, highlight the importance of understanding and responding to these climatic trends. The cooling observed in the short term may offer some relief, but the overarching warming trend aligns with broader global patterns and necessitates continued monitoring and adaptation strategies.

Station Statistics

10-Year Trend

High: -0.26 °C/decade

Low: -0.13 °C/decade

Rain: +0.26 mm/decade

25-Year Trend

High: +0.35 °C/decade

Low: +0.24 °C/decade

Rain: -0.02 mm/decade

50-Year Trend

High: +0.31 °C/decade

Low: +0.22 °C/decade

Rain: -0.05 mm/decade

All-Time Trend

High: +0.25 °C/decade

Low: +0.03 °C/decade

Rain: -0.02 mm/decade

Percentage Above-Average Days

Last 12 Months: 53.7%

This Year: 63.0%

Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) ℹ️

Last 12 Months: 30.3

Historical Average: 27.1

Percentile Rank of Last 12 Months ℹ️

High: 96^th percentile

Low: 74^th percentile

Rain: 22^nd percentile

Change in Variance ℹ️

High: +1.5%

Low: +12.4%

Intraday: +8.3%

Data Coverage

93.3%

First Year of Data

1941

Station Location

Historical Weather Records

	Max High	Avg High	Min High	Max Avg	Avg Avg	Min Avg	Max Low	Avg Low	Min Low	Max Precipitation	Avg Precipitation	Max Snow	Avg Snow
Record	46.0 °C	—	6.1 °C	38.2 °C	—	2.0 °C	32.8 °C	—	-7.5 °C	135.8 mm	—	—	—
January	46.0 °C	36.6 °C	16.2 °C	37.6 °C	29.7 °C	14.6 °C	32.8 °C	21.6 °C	10.0 °C	84.8 mm	1.2 mm	—	—
February	44.7 °C	35.3 °C	16.7 °C	36.9 °C	28.5 °C	12.2 °C	31.6 °C	20.7 °C	8.5 °C	93.5 mm	1.4 mm	—	—
March	44.5 °C	32.9 °C	15.3 °C	35.9 °C	25.7 °C	13.3 °C	29.4 °C	17.6 °C	6.1 °C	100.4 mm	0.8 mm	—	—
April	39.9 °C	28.4 °C	12.5 °C	32.7 °C	20.8 °C	10.7 °C	25.9 °C	12.6 °C	1.4 °C	53.6 mm	0.4 mm	—	—
May	35.0 °C	23.2 °C	9.6 °C	28.9 °C	15.8 °C	6.5 °C	21.4 °C	8.0 °C	-2.7 °C	50.9 mm	0.5 mm	—	—
June	31.6 °C	20.0 °C	7.7 °C	25.7 °C	12.3 °C	4.3 °C	21.0 °C	4.8 °C	-6.0 °C	70.6 mm	0.4 mm	—	—
July	31.8 °C	20.0 °C	6.1 °C	24.1 °C	12.0 °C	2.0 °C	18.3 °C	3.8 °C	-7.5 °C	54.0 mm	0.3 mm	—	—
August	36.6 °C	22.9 °C	7.0 °C	27.8 °C	14.9 °C	6.1 °C	22.1 °C	5.9 °C	-4.1 °C	63.0 mm	0.2 mm	—	—
September	38.8 °C	27.6 °C	11.9 °C	32.4 °C	19.7 °C	9.0 °C	27.4 °C	10.2 °C	-1.0 °C	26.9 mm	0.2 mm	—	—
October	42.6 °C	31.3 °C	11.7 °C	35.3 °C	23.8 °C	11.3 °C	30.0 °C	14.8 °C	1.3 °C	36.1 mm	0.6 mm	—	—
November	44.9 °C	33.8 °C	12.8 °C	36.7 °C	26.5 °C	11.0 °C	31.3 °C	17.9 °C	3.5 °C	53.1 mm	1.0 mm	—	—
December	45.7 °C	35.6 °C	17.1 °C	38.2 °C	28.6 °C	14.3 °C	31.0 °C	20.3 °C	9.3 °C	135.8 mm	1.1 mm	—	—