NT receives ‘unseasonable’ rainfall as records broken across Territory
Katherine saw a more than 150-year-old record smashed as the Territory saw an “unseasonable” Dry Season rainfall.
In scenes reminiscent of the Wet Season, rainfall records were smashed as rain lashed the Territory on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Dry season failed to live up to its name in Katherine, which saw an estimated 198mm of rain in 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday according to the Bureau of Meteorology, smashing its single day May record.
The Bureau of Meteorology told the NT News the average May rainfall in the town is a mere 2mm, making yesterday's rain nearly 100 times the average.
Gauge readings at Tindal reached 175mm, while nearby Ironwood Station got to 172mm.
In the Top End, monitors at Darwin Airport recorded 34mm of rain, much less than locations further south, but still beating the monthly May average of 20mm.
Alice Springs, where the May average is 18mm, recorded more than 50mm in 24 hours, turning the red centre to mud.
The Bureau of Meteorology described the rainfall as “unseasonable” and said it would be remembered as “noteworthy”.
A spokesperson said some of the records broken dated back decades, with Katherine’s rainfall the highest recorded for a day in May in more than 150 years of data.
The wet weather is expected to continue throughout Wednesday, but shift east to Queensland by Thursday.
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