Darwin’s Dry Season could be off to a damp start this weekend

It is official, the Dry Season in the Top End has arrived. But is this the real deal? See what the meteorologists are saying.

Elena Khrustaleva, Sergey Khrustaleva, Amelia Khrustaleva and Stephan Khrustaleva enjoying the dry season afternoon at the Waterfront. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Cloudy skies, a blowing wind and lows dipping to 22C – it might be cause for celebration in the Top End.

After a rainy April - with Darwin Airport recording 259mm of rainfall, more than double the long-term April average - the humidity has scaled down and the aircon seems less essential.

But should we be pulling out our jumpers and blankets just yet?

The Bureau of Meteorology said it was looking promising but we could be in for a few more showers before the Dry really kicks into gear.

In its latest Tropical Climate Report, the Bureau stated: “The northern Australia dry season officially starts on May 1.

“Forecasts for the first week of May indicate typical dry season weather conditions are expected over the Australian tropics, including the Northern Territory’s Top End and the Kimberley region of Western Australia.”

Mindil Beach Sunset Market reopened for the 2025 Dry Season on April 24. Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Dry south-easterly winds are expected to breeze through the first few days of May as the cooler weather settles.

However senior meteorologist Rebecca Patrick said while May 1 was the official start of the Dry Season in the Top End, May (and sometimes April) was a transition month, meaning we tend to see periods of dry weather, interspersed by periods of higher humidity and the odd shower.

“This week is an example of that, with some humidity and the chance of showers forecast to return over the weekend,” she said.

“As we move towards June, the drier periods become longer and temperatures become a little cooler as the south-easterly surges become stronger, pushing more cool air up from southern Australia.”

What can past years tell us?

When minimum temperatures dropped below 20C in Darwin, Ms Patrick said it was an “unofficial indicator of good dry season conditions”.

However, she said when this first happened during the Dry Season could vary “significantly”.

We asked the Bureau of Meteorology to look through the past decade of weather records to locate when each year first experienced lower than 20C.

Elena Khrustaleva, Sergey Khrustaleva, Amelia Khrustaleva and Stephan Khrustaleva enjoying the dry season afternoon at the Waterfront. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Darwin appears to experience its coldest minimum temperature anytime from April to June.

Interestingly, this seems to happen in June every three years.

The coolest temperature recorded this year so far was 20.5 degrees on April 24 so the title is still up for grabs.

If this Dry Season follows the same trend, we might be waiting another month until temperatures drop to the teens.

2024 - 19.1C on May 21

2023 - 18.6C on April 19

2022 - 19.6C on June 10

2021 - 18.9C on April 25

2020 - 19.8C on May 22

2019 - 19.7C on June 1

2018 - 19.7C on May 14

2017 - 18C on April 12

2016 - 17.7C on June 21

2015 - 19.6C on May 1

The coolest temperatures tend to start more into June and July.

Last year, Darwin recorded its coldest night on June 8, a chilly 14.9C.

Originally published as Darwin’s Dry Season could be off to a damp start this weekend