Month’s heat average breaks record

FEBRUARY is set to end on a sweltering note, with the month’s average maximum temperature soaring 1.6C higher than average and the monsoon won’t be showing its ugly face around these parts for awhile

Born and bred in Darwin, Daisy loves thirst quenching beers in the heat and has been entered in the NT News cutest dog competition. Picture: Mitchell Meldrum

FEBRUARY is set to end on a sweltering note, with the month’s average maximum temperature soaring 1.6C higher than average.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) February’s maximum average is 33.1C, the previous record being 31.5C.

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BOM meteorologist Pieter Claassen says there likely no chance of relief until mid-March.

“From now to the weekend we’re looking at a decent change of thunderstorms, about 60 per cent chance,” he said.

“From Monday onwards there’s a 30 per cent chance of thunderstorms.

“We’ll see some dry air move to the Top End but it’ll still feel humid around the coastal areas, which means there’s a less chance of seeing afternoon thunderstorms.”

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Mr Classen said the next opportunity for the monsoon will be in two to four weeks.

“Most likely mid-March is our next shot for the monsoon, when the Madden-Julian Oscillation comes around again,” he said.

“That’s likely when the next pulse is going to come around, if it doesn’t weaken before then.”