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Warmest November nights in Darwin in eight years

Darwin's overnight temperatures averaged to 26 degrees this November, nearly one above average and the warmest for November since 2000.

On the night of the 22nd and 23rd, the mercury barely dipped under 30 degrees – the warmest night for any month since December, 2007 and the warmest November night since 1987.

“Humidity levels were very high over the Top End most of November, due to moisture streaming into troughs over the interior,” said weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Jessica Trevena. “This had a blanket effect on overnight temperatures, and made maximums feel warmer than they were.”

In terms of maximums, it was also warm, with the average for the month coming in at 34 degrees, also one above the long term normal. The warmest day of 36 degrees occurred on the 14th.

"Although it doesn't sound like much, one degree is a large departure from average in the tropics, where temperatures from day to day are generally fairly constant," said Trevena.

When daytime and night time temperatures were combined, the average for the month was 30, one above the long term normal of 29 degrees.

Darwin’s rainfall for the month was just 57mm, despite masses of cloud streaming over the state on many days.

It was a different story further south: Alice Springs, which was generally closer to the axes of the troughs, picked up 160mm for the month, making it the wettest November since records began in 1941.

“Looking ahead, sea surface temperatures to the north of the country are still high, and it is likely that temperatures will remain above normal,” said Trevena. The good news is rainfall totals over Darwin and the Top End in general are likely to increase to normal values over the Summer period as well.”


- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2008

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