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Top Enders dig out the long johns

Brett Dutschke, Tuesday August 19, 2014 - 18:05 AEST

August is known as a month of warming for those in the Northern Territory Top End but this year the region has been hit by a late cold snap, causing residents to dig out the long johns.

For the past two nights Darwin has cooled to 15.3 degrees and 15.0 degrees, more than five degrees colder than the August average. This is not only the city's coldest pair of nights in two years but also its coldest pair of nights this late in the season in 10 years. On the 21st and 22nd of August in 2004 Darwin cooled to 14.7 and 14.7 degrees respectively.

And it has been much colder inland.

Less than 50km inland of Darwin, Middle Point chilled to 7.9 degrees last night and 7.6 degrees the night before, seven degrees below average. This is its coldest pair of nights in two years and coldest pair of nights this late in the season in at least 14 years.

Elsewhere during the last few nights, Delamere, Dum In Mirrie and Cape Fourcroy have all recorded their lowest August temperatures in at least 15 years.

The long johns will be kept handy under pillows until early next week given that each night between now and then looks like being only a degree-or-two warmer than the last few.

Looking further ahead, it is unlikely to become as cold again this year due to winds turning from dry southeasterly to more humid northeasterly.

The southeasterlies were generated between a high south of Western Australia and a low over New South Wales. The southeasterlies are now easing, allowing sea breezes to develop each afternoon, which bring in a bit more humidity each time. This humidity is allowing almost every night to become a bit warmer than the last.

From late next week Darwin's nights should stay above 20 degrees, within about a degree of average.

- Weatherzone

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