Darwin swelters through 30.2C overnight minimum temperature, the hottest ever on record

DARWIN has officially sweltered throught its hottest ever recorded overnight minimum temperature

Darwin has officially sweltered throught its hottest ever recorded overnight minimum temperature

DARWIN has officially sweltered throught its hottest ever recorded overnight minimum temperature.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the mercury did not dip below 30.2C on Thursday night. That s officially the hottest minimum temperature on record since data first started being kept 79 years ago.

The previous record minimum was 30C which was set last year on December 12.

BoM forecaster Nick Loveday said the water temperature in Darwin Harbour had been hovering around 32 to 33 degrees.

Hottest ever recorded minimum temperature at #Darwin Airport! The lowest the temperature dropped down to was 30.2°C.

Darwin Harbour water temperatures are around 32-33°C. Westerly winds blew in from over the warm water, leading to a warm, humid night.https://t.co/tuja8TTnaW pic.twitter.com/8DkBP0U1K5

— Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory (@BOM_NT) December 26, 2019

“A deepening trough to the south of the Top End caused westerly winds in the lower levels to blow over the bathtub-like water on to Darwin, preventing the temperature from dropping any lower,” he said.

“Sea surface temperatures off the northwest coast of Australia are at least a couple of degrees above average.”

Other locations across the Territory also broke records on Boxing Day night with Daly Waters recording its hottest annual minimum of 31.3C alongside Maningrida at 29.3C and Point Fawcett at 30.1C.

Tennant Creek residents slept through a stifling 33.1C in what was the town’s hottest December minimum on record.

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Warruwi Airport and Port Keats also both recorded their hottest

Mercifully, though, one Top End town was drenched with more than 100mm in just four hours, as rain swept across the Territory on Friday.

The Arnhem Land community of Oenpelli saw 111mm recorded with surrounding areas also receiving up to 57mm.

But it’s not just Arnhem Land that can look forward to some rain finally arriving this wet season.

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The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting rain for the Darwin region this weekend with the chance of a shower or storm 80 per cent on Sunday.

There is also a 70 per cent chance of showers on Saturday.

Forecasters are also predicting the chance of a thunderstorm with gusty winds.

On Sunday, showers are most likely to occur in the morning and afternoon.