Early onset of the monsoon only a few weeks away, according to BOM

MONSOONAL rains are forecast to descend on Darwin in a matter weeks and bring some much-needed relief after residents sweltered through a record-breaking heatwave this month.

MONSOONAL rains are forecast to descend on Darwin in a matter weeks and bring some much-needed relief after residents sweltered through a record-breaking heatwave this month.

The Burea of Meteorology (BOM) said Darwin has already doubled its record of days above 36 degrees for November, with seven counted so far.

Lajamanu has also broke its monthly temperature record after hitting 44.3 degrees on November 12, and Point Stuart broke its all-time record with 38.8 degrees on November 7.

A storm captured just off the coast of Nightcliff in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Picture: @OreboundImages

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Senior BOM forecaster Chris Kent said forecasts show Darwin will continue to see days reaching 35-36 degrees for the next week.

“The rainfall is going to be a bit of a hit or miss for Darwin over the coming days, but it might pick up a bit next weekend,” he said.

Mr Kent said the monsoon was still expected to arrive early this year and bring some cool relief.

“In the next couple of weeks we’re expecting the MJO (Madden-Julian Oscillation) to start drifting around to the Australian area, so towards the end of November, early December,” he said.

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“We could start seeing some signs of monsoonal action in a couple of weeks time.”

The average monsoon onset date is December 28.

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