Top End braces for wetter than average rainy season

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting that a soggy La Niña cycle could bring above average rainfalls to the Territory this wet season

THE Bureau of Meteorology is predicting that a soggy La Niña cycle could bring an early start to an above average Territory wet season this year.

Meteorologist Juliet Barsden said a La Niña beginning to take shape in the Pacific could boost the chances of above average rainfall across the majority of the NT, particularly in the southeast, this Wet.

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“The La Niña also increases the risk of an early tropical cyclone,” she said.

“It typically brings cooler and cloudier days, and an earlier onset of the first rains.

“The climate drivers are all looking favourable. In the northwest Top End we’ll usually see the first storms of the season arrive between September 1 and November 1.”

NT Farmers Association chief executive Paul Burke said last year’s wet season was one of the worst in years.

A lone fisho skirts a wall of rain as storms move across Darwin Harbour. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

He said aquifers across the Top End were “desperately” overdue for a good recharge.

“Farmers in the Katherine region have especially experiencing some pressure after their worst Wet in over 20 years,” Mr Burke said. “The aquifers are running low and a lot of farmers had their water allocations cut last year.

“They have a range of farms out in Katherine from mangoes to melons, pumpkins and asparagus.”

Mr Burke said the below average rains highlighted the need for the NT to have a sensible discussion about water storage.

“We would like to see off-stream storages built,” he said.

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“The proposed off-stream water storage facility near the Adelaide River certainly is promising. It’s got a lot of potential and could open up a lot for farming land.

“The NT has the potential to lead the nation in a lot more tropical fruits aside from mangoes.”

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting that dangerous fire conditions over Darwin and Adelaide River will ease on Sunday.

The humidity will gradually begin to increase late over the weekend.