Monsoon rains bring relief to Territorians

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Bureau of Meteorology says the monsoon has arrived in the Territory and is likely to reach Darwin by the weekend. Monsoonal conditions are tonight developing over the Arnhem coast, with the trough expected to start moving west tomorrow. It's a forecast welcomed by Territorians who've endured a record-breaking wet season.

Transcript

00:00It's the annual weather event that couldn't come soon enough for those sweltering across

00:06the Top End.

00:07I think this wet season is one of the worst ones we've had on record.

00:11It's been extremely hot, humid and it's been pretty hard to bear.

00:17We came actually for the wet and for the monsoons and also for the runoff to get some pretty

00:22good barra but that hasn't been happening at the moment.

00:25At long last, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts the much-anticipated monsoon is set to reach

00:30Darwin by this weekend.

00:32To the east in the Arnhem district, a monsoonal trough could be active as early as tomorrow.

00:37We are expecting that monsoonal conditions to extend westwards over the next couple of

00:44days.

00:45So for Darwin, we'll be expecting to see those north-westerly winds starting to bring more

00:50showers in from tomorrow.

00:52The monsoon develops as the continent heats up during summer, and low pressure starts

00:57to build up over land.

00:59In the Top End, prevailing winds swing to a north-westerly, as moist air from the ocean

01:03is sucked towards northern Australia in a circular motion.

01:07And while some climate drivers have been supporting the development of the monsoon, the Bureau

01:12says broader weather conditions just haven't lined up.

01:15Winds have been taking records from about 1957.

01:20This is the latest onset in Darwin.

01:22Better late than never, the arrival of the monsoon will bring welcome relief from what's

01:26been a stifling wet season.

01:28And its late arrival won't be the only weather record broken this year.

01:32On Monday, Darwin Airport recorded its hottest ever February overnight low of 30 degrees.

01:38That's the second highest minimum on record for any month.

01:42Oppressive conditions taking a toll on Territorians.

01:45For more UN videos visit www.un.org

01:46And don't forget to like and subscribe!

Category

Transcript

Recommended