Uluru

Northern Territory Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Northern Territory, Australia in January.

Planning a journey to Northern Territory, Australia this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Northern Territory in January

Northern Territory, Australia is a region in Australia. January in Northern Territory generally has temperatures that range from very warm to very hot, with precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between very warm in Darwin at 32°C (90°F) to very hot in Uluru at 38°C (100°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 24°C (75°F) in Uluru and 26°C (79°F) in Darwin. The temperatures mentioned for daytime and nighttime are general averages. However there can be days that surpass these temperatures. So equip yourself with clothing that can handle the potential heat.

For specific regional insights in Northern Territory, Australia, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Uluru with an average of 29 mm (1.1 in) to heavy rainfall in Palmerston with 443 mm (17 in). Based on climate data from the last 30 years, Darwin receives the most rainfall during this month of the year.

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Darwin as an example - it receives around 174 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore Northern Territory by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Northern Territory — and find the best time to visit. (based on Uluru)

Best Places to Visit in Northern Territory in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Northern Territory.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Northern Territory

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Northern Territory, Australia?

Temperature range in Northern Territory (January)

Precipitation variation in Northern Territory (January)

Darwin

In January Darwin generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 32°C (90°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 26°C (79°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
33°C (91°F)
32°C (90°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
223 hours
174 hours
165 hours
Monthly rainfall
312 mm (12 in)
432 mm (17 in)
424 mm (17 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Alice Springs

In January Alice Springs generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 38°C (100°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
36°C (97°F)
38°C (100°F)
36°C (97°F)
Min temperature
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
293 hours
313 hours
274 hours
Monthly rainfall
40 mm (1.6 in)
44 mm (1.7 in)
46 mm (1.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
9 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Palmerston

In January Palmerston generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 33°C (91°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
34°C (93°F)
33°C (91°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
223 hours
174 hours
165 hours
Monthly rainfall
338 mm (13 in)
443 mm (17 in)
441 mm (17 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Casuarina

In January Casuarina generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 32°C (90°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 26°C (79°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
33°C (91°F)
32°C (90°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
223 hours
174 hours
165 hours
Monthly rainfall
304 mm (12 in)
425 mm (17 in)
419 mm (16 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Kings Canyon

In January Kings Canyon generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 37°C (99°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
36°C (97°F)
37°C (99°F)
36°C (97°F)
Min temperature
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly rainfall
48 mm (1.9 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
41 mm (1.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
9 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Northern Territory, in Australia.

In our records: Australia January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Australia in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the warmest January day in Australia reached 46°C (115°F) in Ballarat on January 29, 2009.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Northern Territory in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Uluru 38°C (100°F) 24°C (75°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Darwin 32°C (90°F) 26°C (79°F) 432 mm (17 in)
Alice Springs 38°C (100°F) 23°C (73°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Palmerston 33°C (91°F) 25°C (77°F) 443 mm (17 in)
Casuarina 32°C (90°F) 26°C (79°F) 425 mm (17 in)
Kings Canyon 37°C (99°F) 23°C (73°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)

Northern Territory weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Northern Territory, Australia in January?

In January, Northern Territory, Australia generally has poor weather conditions. Darwin sees daytime temperatures near 32°C (90°F), with nights cooling to roughly 26°C (79°F).

What is the average temperature in Northern Territory, Australia in January?

Average temperatures in Northern Territory, Australia during January range from a nighttime low near 26°C (79°F) to a daytime high around 32°C (90°F) in Darwin.

Does Northern Territory, Australia get a lot of rain in January?

Yes. January brings heavy rainfall to Northern Territory, Australia, with Darwin averaging around 432 mm (17 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Northern Territory, Australia?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Northern Territory, Australia due to the typically poor weather in Darwin.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June and July offering mostly pleasant weather in Darwin. The weather in January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Northern Territory.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Australia? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Australia.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.