Editing Kakadu National Park (section)

==Climate==
[[File:Kakadu 2534.jpg|thumb|right|Mist in Kakadu on a [[billabong]]]]
[[File:Yellow Waters Billabong July 2001.JPG|thumb|right|Yellow Water Billabong, July 2001]]
Kakadu is located in the tropics, between 12° and 14° south of the [[Equator]].  The climate is [[monsoonal]], characterised by two main seasons: the [[dry season]] and the [[wet season]].  The "build up" describes the transition between the dry and the wet. During the dry season (from April/May to September), dry southerly and easterly trade winds predominate. Humidity is relatively low and rain is unusual. At Jabiru, the average maximum temperature for June–July is 32&nbsp;°C. During the "build up" (October to December) conditions can be extremely uncomfortable with high temperatures and high humidity. However, "build up" storms are impressive and lightning strikes are frequent. In fact, the Top End of Australia records more lightning strikes per year than any other place on earth. At Jabiru the average maximum temperature for October is 37.5&nbsp;°C.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jabiru climate: Weather Jabiru & temperature by month |url=https://en.climate-data.org/oceania/australia/northern-territory/jabiru-32210/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=en.climate-data.org}}</ref>

The wet season (January to March/April) is characterised by warm temperatures and rain. Most of the rain is associated with monsoonal troughs formed over [[Southeast Asia]], although occasionally tropical [[cyclone]]s produce intense heavy rain over localised areas. At Jabiru, the average maximum temperature for January is 33&nbsp;°C. Annual rainfall in Kakadu National Park ranges from 1,565&nbsp;mm in Jabiru to 1,300&nbsp;mm in the Mary River region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate Kakadu National Park: Temperature, climate graph, Climate table for Kakadu National Park |url=https://en.climate-data.org/oceania/australia/kakadu-national-park-10432/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=en.climate-data.org}}</ref>

Most non-Aboriginal people really only refer to the rain and dry seasons, but the [[Bininj|Bininj/Mungguy]] people identify as many as six seasons<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelnt.com/en/experience/nature/kakadu-seasons.htm/|title=Travelnt.com|access-date=1 April 2024|archive-date=19 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519154731/http://www.travelnt.com/en/experience/nature/kakadu-seasons.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> in the Kakadu region:

* Kunumeleng – mid-October to late December, pre-monsoon storm season with hot weather and building thunderstorms in the afternoons<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garde |first1=Murray |title=Kunumeleng |url=https://www.njamed.com/#Kunumeleng |website=Bininj Kunwok Online dictionary |publisher=Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre |access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>
* Kudjewk – from January to March, monsoon season with thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flooding; the heat and humidity generate an explosion of plant and animal life<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garde |first1=Murray |title=Kudjewk |url=https://www.njamed.com/#kudjewk |website=Bininj Kunwok Online dictionary |publisher=Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre |access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>
* Bangkerreng – April, the "knock 'em down storm" season where floodwater recedes but violent, windy storms knock down grasses<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garde |first1=Murray |title=Bangkerreng |url=https://www.njamed.com/#bangkerreng  |website=Bininj Kunwok Online dictionary |publisher=Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre |access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>
* Yekke – from May to mid-June, relatively cool with low humidity, the Aboriginal people historically started burning the woodlands in patches to "clean the country" and encourage new growth for grazing animals
* Wurrkeng – from mid-June to mid-August, the cold weather season with low humidity; most creeks stop flowing and the floodplains quickly dry out<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garde |first1=Murray |title=Wurrkeng |url=https://www.njamed.com/#wurrkeng  |website=Bininj Kunwok Online dictionary |publisher=Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre |access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>
* Kurrung – from mid-August to mid-October, hot dry weather with ever-shrinking [[billabong]]s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garde |first1=Murray |title=Kurrung |url=https://www.njamed.com/#kurrung  |website=Bininj Kunwok Online dictionary |publisher=Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre |access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>