Another fire warning near Mataranka

A fire yesterday even threatened the town at one stage.

Motorists on the Stuart Highway between Katherine and Mataranka are advised to drive to the smoky conditions.

Meanwhile, Katherine's 10-day run of post-40 degree days is expected to come to an end tomorrow.

With today's forecast reaching another uncomfortable 41 degrees, it will be the 10^th consecutive day of post 40 degree days.

The statistics bear out the claims from long-time residents of this October being much hotter than those in the past.

The average temperature for the month is already 40 degrees against a long-term average of 37.7 degrees.

The Bureau of Meteorology says temperatures should fall to much more mild 39 degrees for the rest of the week before rising to 40 degrees again over the weekend.

Many weather watchers are closely watching the forecasts for the winds which caused fire problems near Stuart Estate and Mataranka yesterday.

Katherine is a very long way from any record heat run however.

You may remember Rabbit Flat in the Tanami Desert won that dubious honour earlier in the year with a record 115 days in a row over 39 degrees.

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