Dry season beckons as humidity drops, temperatures cool in parts of the Top End

Cool night-time temperatures and an upcoming dry spell are the latest signs the dry season is just on the horizon for the Top End, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The first yachts have begun mooring at Fannie Bay. Picture: Che Chorley

COOL night-time temperatures and an upcoming dry spell are the latest signs the dry season is just on the horizon for the Top End, according to the Bureau of Meteorology NT.

BOM NT senior forecaster Billy Lynch said in a sign of the shift in seasons, a handful of Top End locations had recorded their coldest night of the year so far on Tuesday, with the mercury dipping to a chilly 21C in Batchelor and Wadeye, 16C in Tindal, 13C in Borroloola and 11.6C in Daly Waters.

He also said dry, if hot, weather was forecast for Darwin this weekend, when south-easterly winds were expected to push hot air currently over inland parts up into the Top End.

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Sunday, in particular, is looking like a fairly windy and dry day right across the Top End, but it’s not going to be cool – it’s going to be quite hot,” he said.

“We’re looking at 35C in Darwin and 37C in the rural area.”

Mr Lynch said while parts of the Top End were still experiencing bouts of high humidity and rain, conditions were turning in the lead-up to the official start of the dry season on May 1.

“The weather has been fluctuating, but we’re definitely trending towards the dry season now,” he said.

“Humidity levels have definitely been on the low side for wet season standards, but they’re still on the high side for proper dry season standards.

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“April is always a transition month, and for the next couple of weeks, we’ll get periods of both (seasons).”

In another sign the seasons are changing, the first yachts have begun mooring at Fannie Bay.

In Central Australia, Mr Lynch said a cool change had been forecast for the next few days, with temperatures expected to drop by 5-10C.