Best time to visit Katherine
The best time to visit Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park is in June and July when the temperatures are comfortable with little or no rainfall.
However, anytime during the winter dry season from May through September is good: you can expect warm, sunny days with minimal rainfall.
Katherine weather
Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park experiences a hot tropical monsoonal climate characterised by two main seasons: the dry season and the wet season.
The dry season from May through September is characterised by warm, sunny days and crisp winter nights.
The wet season, from November to March, is characterised by hot temperatures and monsoonal rain. However the increased rainfall results in spectacular waterfalls with lush green landscapes that engulf much of the region, including the Katherine region and Nitmiluk National Park.
During the transition from dry to wet, humidity rises and the air becomes thick with heat and moisture. Known locally as as the ‘build up’ or ‘troppo’ season, this period is subject to gathering storm clouds but only sporadic rain, with locals and visitors alike doing their best to cope with stifling conditions.
The UV (ultraviolet) Index is extreme for most of the year. Ideally, you should wear a broad hat and sunglasses, use sunscreen and try to avoid direct sunlight from two hours before and three hours after noon.
What is the best month to visit Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park?
June and July are the best months to visit Kakadu, since this is the cooler time of year, with less-intense temperatures and no rainfall.
Which is the hottest month in Katherine?
The hottest month in Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park is usually November, with an average daytime temperature of 37°C (98°F), high heat and humidity, and a nighttime low of 25°C (77°F).
However, on the warmest days of the month, the temperature may exceed 37°C (98°F).
The hot season in Katherine lasts from mid-September to early-December, with an average daily high temperature above 36°C (96°F).
Which is the coolest month in Katherine?
July is the coolest month in Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park, with an average high temperature of 30°C (86°F) and a low of 13°C (55°F).
The 'cool season' in Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park lasts from early-June to early-August, with an average daily high temperature below 31°C (87°F).
When is it sunniest in Katherine?
The sunniest time of year in Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park is usually August with around 10 hours of bright sunshine per day; that's 82% of daylight hours.
Katherine – Temperature averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 35 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 24 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 25 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| Comfort level – heat | |||||||||||
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Weather station: Katherine Tindal Civilian Airport / RAAF Base Tindal (KTR), located 15km (9mi) southeast of Katherine, NT. Source: Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). Climate data collected during 1991 to 2024.
What is the humidity in Katherine?
Katherine experiences significant seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 40% – 75% over the course of the year.
What do the humidity conditions feel like in Katherine?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.
Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature.
The average annual dew point in Katherine is 16°C (61°F), and varies over the course of the year from dry and comfortable at 8°C (46°F) to muggy and uncomfortable at 23°C (73°F).
The more humid time of year lasts from October through April, when you can expect the comfort level to be muggy at least 25% of the time.
The months with the most muggy days in Katherine are December through February, with every day muggy or worse.
June through August is more comfortable, with less than one day in each month that feels humid.
Katherine – Humidity and UV averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Comfort level – humidity (#muggy days) | |||||||||||
| 30 | 28 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 28 |
| Average dew point temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 23 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 22 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 75 | 77 | 72 | 61 | 55 | 51 | 47 | 41 | 40 | 44 | 55 | 69 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ |
Which month has the most rain in Katherine?
January is usually the wettest month in Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park, with 259mm (10in) of rainfall on average, distributed across 15 days.
The wet season usually lasts from early-November to late-March, with a greater than 32% chance of a given day being a wet day.
Which is the driest month in Katherine?
The dry season in Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park lasts from late-March to early-November; the months of April through October have little or no rainfall in Katherine.
What are the windiest months in Katherine?
The windiest month in Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park is July, with an average hourly wind speed of 17 kilomteres per hour (10.6 mph; 9 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from around late-April to late-October, with average wind speeds of more than 14 kilometres per hour (8.7 mph; 7.6 knots).
The calmer time of year lasts from late-October to late-April. The month with the least amount of wind in Katherine is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 11 kilometres per hour (7 mph; 6 knots).
The predominant wind direction in Katherine varies throughout the year.
What's the likelihood of a storm in Katherine?
Katherine & Nitmiluk National Park is susceptible to tropical cyclones and summer thunderstorms. The storm season lasts from December to early-April.
There's a 3.7% likelihood of a tropical storm in Katherine during December, and a 4.5% likelihood of a tropical storm in March.
Katherine – Rainfall and wind averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 15 | 13 | 10 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 259 | 242 | 165 | 38 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 25 | 95 | 220 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Katherine: 14 July, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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