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Northern Territory breaks record for latest monsoon arrival, delaying rainfall for crops

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) in Australia has reported a record-breaking delay in the arrival of the Northern Territory's monsoon season, surpassing the previous latest arrival date of January 25, 1973. The monsoon absent as of Sunday, 2025 has marked a new record. Forecasters anticipate that humid conditions will persist across the Top End for an additional week at least.

Senior forecaster at BOM, Sally Cutter, indicated a possibility of the monsoon arriving within the next week or two. "There is a chance [the monsoon] will occur in early February," Cutter stated. She also noted a low chance of a cyclone in the Gulf of Carpentaria, which could influence the monsoon's onset over the Top End.

Darwin's temperatures are expected to reach 33 degrees Celsius on Sunday, with an increasing likelihood of showers and thunderstorms throughout the week. Cutter mentioned that the monsoon would bring much-needed cloud cover, reducing temperatures. She clarified that the delay in the monsoon's arrival does not necessarily imply an extension of the wet season into the dry season.

Monsoons are crucial for northern Australia, providing essential rainfall for crops, and livestock, and replenishing water bodies. Typically arriving in the last week of December, the monsoon season can last up to four months. Thelma Wolsey, a tropical fruit and vegetable grower, and Maria Gill, a market stallholder, have expressed concerns over the impact of the delayed rains on their produce.

Source: ABC News

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