Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 4 hrs ago
Hector storm returns with the Northern Territory wet season
Hector returns with the Northern Territory wet season and usually forms around 3pm each day.
The giant thunderstorm towers over the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin, and is often visible from the city.
World War II pilots used its dependable location as a navigation beacon when flying between Darwin and Papua New Guinea.
Tiwi communities have long tracked seasonal changes, including periods marked by daily rain, thunder and afternoon cloud build-up.
The islands’ warm seas and hotter interior create the conditions that help Hector form regularly.
The storm can rise up to 20 kilometres and drop 50 millimetres of rain in a few hours, contributing to the Tiwi Islands being the Northern Territory’s wettest part.
The Northern Territory wet season has officially begun, alongside the annual return of Hector, a large thunderstorm over the Tiwi Islands.
Hector typically towers over the islands from about 3pm each day.
The storm can rise up to 20 kilometres and drop 50 millimetres of rain in a couple of hours.
Its regular formation is linked to the Tiwi Islands’ warm surrounding seas and hotter interior.
Indigenous Tiwi calendars track seasonal changes associated with the storms.
- Who
- Hector, a recurring thunderstorm over the Tiwi Islands.
- What
- The Northern Territory wet season has commenced, coinciding with Hector’s annual return.
- When
- The wet season has officially commenced. Hector typically appears from about 3pm each day.
- Where
- The Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
- Why
- The islands’ warm surrounding seas provide moisture, while the hotter interior and daily sea breeze help storms develop.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pilots used Hector’s dependable location as a navigation beacon when travelling between Darwin and Papua New Guinea.
Hector was photographed from Darwin as it awakened for the season.
ABC Australia reported that the Northern Territory wet season had officially commenced.
- Typical arrival
- About 3pm each day
- Maximum height
- Up to 20 kilometres
- Rainfall
- 50 millimetres in a couple of hours
- Tiwi Islands annual rainfall
- Up to 2,000 millimetres
- Tiwi wet-season period
- September to February