31/08/2008: Darwin has just experienced its hottest August in 10 years, according to weatherzone.com.au.

The city had an average maximum of 33 degrees, above the long term normal of 31. This made it the hottest August in terms of daytime temperatures since 1998. In fact, on the 4th, the mercury soared to 35 degrees, the hottest August day in two years.

"August has been a month dominated by dry southeasterly winds across the Northern Territory. These winds have resulted in clear skies, which have led to the high temperatures that have been recorded this month," weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Matt Pearce said.

In contrast, the nights were on the cool side. Darwin had an average minimum of 19 degrees, below the long term normal of 21. However, there was one exception. On the morning of the 26th, the temperature did not fall below 25 degrees, making it the warmest August night in five years.

"The same factor which led to the very warm days is actually responsible for the cold nights as well – the dry southeasterly winds and clear skies. When skies are clear and humidity is low, any heat that builds up during the day is rapidly lost through the evening, so morning temperatures end up lower," Pearce said.

It was a different story further south in the Territory. The Alice Springs district experienced one of its coldest Augusts in recent years. Alice Springs itself had an average maximum of 20 degrees, three below the long term normal. Kulgera had its coldest August in 26 years of records.

"The southern parts of the Territory were affected by a broad cold airmass that was in place across southeast Australia during August. This resulted in many records being broken across the southeastern states," Pearce said.

Rainfall was also varied across the Territory during August. Darwin did not receive any rain at all during the month, although this is not unusual for August, which has a long term normal of just five millimetres.

In contrast, parts of the Alice Springs district received a drenching in the last few days of the month. Watarrka picked up 23mm, its highest August total in 18 years of records.

"A northwest cloud band delivered a couple of days of widespread rain to southern parts of the Territory at the end of August. If not for this system, it would have been a rainless month for almost all locations," Pearce said.

"The next couple of months are likely to remain generally dry across the Territory with cooler sea surface temperatures nearby pointing towards a slightly later start to the wet season. This will favour more hot days and cool nights."

Media Inquiries:

Matt Pearce
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9236

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