'Weak' monsoon finally on radar

This expected first monsoon of the wet season is well overdue, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

“The week ahead will bring increased rainfall as a weak monsoon trough forms to our north,” the bureau said.

“The monsoon trough will remain weak, but it will bring increased rainfall, cloudiness and relief for Top End residents, with monsoon like conditions being felt at times across the northwest Top End, including Darwin,” a bureau spokeswoman said.

Katherine and Darwin rainfall forecasts show a high chance of rainfall from tomorrow, and 4 day totals over the Top End are expected to be in the 100-150mm range.

“Warm conditions are forecast to increase across southern NT as warm, tropical northerly winds reach Central Australia from Saturday,” the spokeswoman said.

Daytime temperatures in Alice Springs will be in the low forties this weekend, and from Sunday overnight temperatures are expected to only drop to mid-twenties.

The Bureau's heatwave service is indicating a low intensity heatwave for parts of the southern NT from this weekend and into early next week.

Wrapping up 2017, which produced a bumper wet season for the Katherine region, the bureau said 2017 was the fifth warmest year on record for the Northern Territory.

The hottest 2017 temperature in the NT was 45.8°C recorded at Jervois on the December 29.

The coldest 2017 temperature in the NT was -3.5°C recorded at Yulara Airport on the 7th of July.

Rainfall for the Territory was above average, including Darwin.

It was Darwin’s ninth wettest year on record.

From all observation locations in the NT, Pirlangimpi Airport recorded the highest amount of rain in 2017, with a total of 2446.0mm.