Darwin

in a few weeks hot and sticky as long as you dont mind sweating and drinking a lot you should be right
you are heading up into the wet season rain thunderstorms heat etc

steve

One advantage of the build up (so i am told ) is the incredible lightning storms

Darwin in the build up. What to expect.

Day time temps in Darwin area about 31-33 Deg C, add another 2 Deg C as you move away from the coast, to the rural areas,as you get away from the sea breezes.

Add anothe 2 to 4 Deg C as you move further inland, about south of tha Batchelor / Adelaide River township areas.

Humidity is now on the way up, daytimes are already into the high 40's and expected to keep climbing during the "Build Up"

Night time, Darwin overnight temps are not getting below 26 Deg C, with an expected Min low of 30 Deg C towards the end of the "Build Up"
As to be expected, as the tempreature "falls" the humidity increases, so night times can be very sticky. Sleeping under fans an absalute mininum, but A/C is better if you want a good night sleep.

Our build up thunderstorms, though destructive, are spectaculare (sic) and welcomed, as the come in from the east, usually around sundown or a little after, giving a splash of rain, but most welcome, Is the wind and "cold air" that comes with them. The lightening is intense, and can be blinding, with many ground strikes, and If you are close to one, you will know about it. Darwin avarages 30,000 flashes a season, and we are expection a bumper season this year.

When the monsoon trough eventually comes down over and south of us, the rains then start. That has usually been about the 2nd or 3rd week of December.
This is the a differant time again. Rains almost full time from the to the end of the monsoon trough. Temps stay around 27 to 29 Dec C, but humidity is always in the low 90's or higher.

If a cyclone goes past, expect more rain, localised flooding with the high rainfall, and a little more wind. (Sometimes, Lots)

If you are caravanning, best find a park with ensuites that you can park right up against, as the trip to the dunny will get you soaked through.

A good annex, that you can open up the sides and let the air through is advisable, otherwise, it gets muggy, and mildewy under there.

Once the rain starts, its a great place to visit, but the build up before hand can be opresive. We dont call in Mango Madness Season" foer nothing

Nick

Agree with all - live in Darwin - build up not in full swing as yet, but try a cold shower at 0600 and having to stand below a ceiling fan to dry off - in another month power meters will spinning off mountings with aircon power usage.

Not the heat but the humidity will knock you around - also does the term 'mango season' ring a bell - every body seems to go more troppo (more than normal) during buildup.

A lot of Territorians take leave from NT during build up and head south to 'escape' the buildup.

Luck

cd

When I lived there a long time ago, October was 'Sweating' month and November was 'Suicide month' and December was 'Hangover' month.

Good luck

Thank to all foryour replys all information taken on board.

Cheers