Darwin matches night-time heat record, with low of 29.7 degrees Celsius
Darwin has matched a record for its highest night-time minimum, with the mercury failing to drop below 29.7 degrees Celsius.
After a warm day on Tuesday, with a top of 34C, people in the Northern Territory's Top End were given little relief overnight, with the minimum temperature in Darwin only coming at 5:14am (CST).
A climatologist from the Bureau of Meteorology, Joel Lisonbee, said the overnight minimum matched the record set first in 1985, but has since been recorded on four other occasions.
The highest minimum ever recorded in the NT occurred on January 5, 2006, when Jervois Station east of Alice Springs recorded an overnight low of 33.7C.
Mr Lisonbee said global warming made record temperatures more likely.
"Global warming certainly increases the chances of us getting record high temperatures, but it (the overnight record) would also be affected by shorter term weather patterns," he said.
He said the record 29.7C had usually been recorded in December, although it was once noted in November.
The high night-time temperatures have accompanied fairly warm conditions during the day, but no daytime records have yet been set, he said.
And people in Darwin should not expect relief anytime soon.
Forecasters have tipped minimum temperatures of around 29C for the next few days, with an increasing chance of stormy weather in coming days, which should cool things down.
