NT Forecast: Top End humidity rising as winds whip Central Australia

THINGS are cooling down in the south with the coolest night since last August, and the coldest April night in four years - dropping to 3.9C. Meanwhile showers form in the Top End.

ALICE Springs has this week experienced the coolest night in the town since last August, in a sure sign things are definitely cooling down.

Jack Frost has been considering trips to the Red Centre in the past week, but recent warmer daytime temperatures has seen toasty autumnal days in Central Australia with above average temperatures for April.

Elliott, Tennant Creek Airport, Brunette Downs, Rabbit Flat, Territory Grape Farm, Jervois, Alice Springs Airport and Curtain Springs are seeing temperatures that are anywhere from 0.1 to 2.1 degrees above the April average.

While it’s been a warm start to the month, it’s been cool in the past week or so.

The Bureau of Meteorology said mercury plummeted on Monday to 6.4 degrees at Rabbit Flat (the previous lowest daily minimum temperature was 7 degrees on 30 April 2004).

At Alice Springs Airport, Monday’s minimum air temperature was 3.9 degrees, lower than the 5.9 degrees recorded the day before (18 April).

That’s the coolest night in the town since last August, and the coldest April night since 2017.

Stop it #CentralAustralia ❄️It's not winter yet! On Monday #AliceSprings Airport recorded it's coldest April night since 2017, with the mercury dipping down to 3.9 degrees 🌡️🥶
No chance of that in the #TopEnd with sea breezes helping humidity climb this week 🌬️🌊💦😓

— Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory (@BOM_NT) April 20, 2021

Despite these cold bursts, BOM advised Alice Springs temperatures are likely to stay warmer this week.

The mercury will be sticking to the high 20s over the next few days before dropping (along with the minimum temperatures) into the weekend.

Persistent sunny skies with east to south-easterly winds will keep the region feeling fresh. The lunchtime to evening winds are likely to get up to 25 kilometres per hour.

Top End Weather

We know #TopEnd#DrySeason excitement is here, but it's actually mid Bangkarrang around #Katherine when the @jawoyn people see late storms flatten tall grass (Marrk), clouds clear, and floods recede. It's Bamurru (magpie geese) season 🦆🍽️🤤 Learn more: https://t.co/lyPvRxsMFi

— Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory (@BOM_NT) April 21, 2021

Up in the Top End humidity is increasing with the Arnhem region looking at some potential wetter weather over the coming days.

BOM has forecast a trough is due to deepen in the Gulf of Carpentaria today, while a weak low is drifting into the region strengthening the chance of thunderstorm activity.

Across the Top End’s east and north, showers and storms are possible along with increasing humidity as sea breezes bring moist air across the north, which could lead to some storm activity around Kakadu in the next few days.

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The humidity isn’t going away this week, with the potential for showers around Darwin in the coming days.

At this stage it looks like the dry spell from last weekend could be repeated in some parts this weekend. These drier spells are part of the transition into the Dry Season which officially starts on Saturday, 1 May.

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