31/12/2009: Darwin has just experienced its seventh wettest December on record, according to weatherzone.com.au.

The city picked up 446mm during the month, well in excess of the long term average of 247mm. This made it the wettest December since 1998 and the seventh wettest December on record.

"Most of the rain fell on the weekend of the 12th and 13th as the low that was to become Severe Tropical Cyclone Laurence passed over the city. This low brought torrential rain, leading to flash flooding in a number of areas," weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Matt Pearce said.

Darwin ended up with a total of 1731mm for 2009, nearly spot on the long term annual average of 1713mm.

Temperatures were much closer to normal during December. Darwin had an average maximum of 33 degrees, right on the long term normal.

However, this hid some significant variability in the temperatures. On the 7th, the city peaked at 36 degrees, the hottest December day in four years. Then, just five days later on the 12th, the mercury struggled to only 26 degrees under the influence of cloud from the tropical low, making it the coolest December day in 11 years.

Darwin’s average minimum of 25 degrees was also right on the long term normal.

Once again, though, there was some variability in the overnight temperatures. On the morning of the 10th, the temperature did not fall below 30 degrees, the hottest December night in two years. However, the very next morning, on the 11th, the city dropped to just 23 degrees, making it the coolest December night in two years.

When both daytime and overnight temperatures were combined, Darwin’s average temperature came in at 29 degrees, right on the long term normal for December.

Looking at 2009 as a whole, it was a warm year in Darwin. The city had an average maximum of 32.7 degrees, compared to a long term normal of 32, and an average minimum of 23.4 degrees, compared to a long term normal of 23.2. The mean temperature came in at 28.1 degrees, which made it the warmest year since 2005.

"The high average temperatures can largely be put down to a warm March and September and the hottest October on record," Pearce said.

"At this stage, we are expecting 2010 to be a wetter than average year, due mainly to the predicted breakdown of the current El Nino pattern. However, this may well manifest itself in rain over the traditional dry season, rather than particularly severe wet seasons."

Media Inquiries:

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

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