Darwin received its heaviest rain in six months as a rare September shower passed over the city in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Darwin Airport registered 29.4mm of rain in just over one hour shortly after midnight, with another 0.2mm entering the gauge prior to 9am on Tuesday. This was its highest daily rainfall total since March and nearly double the monthly average for this time of year.

Rainfall during September is rare in Darwin. The city's long-term average for the month is 16mm and it's not uncommon for the entire month to remain dry, as it did in 2017 and 2014. On average, the city only picks up rain on a couple of days during the month.

Darwin Airport highest daily rainfall total during September was 70.6mm in 1942.

More typical dry season weather will return to Darwin and the western Top End during the remainder of this week.

Looking ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology predict a late northern rainfall onset for most of northern Australia this year, including the western Top End. This is largely due to the potential of El Nino developing on the Pacific Ocean during the months ahead.