How Darwin's Wet Season can affect Imports

Most places in Australia experience four distinct seasons - winter, spring, summer and autumn. While the shoulder seasons are getting shorter in the southern states, all four seasons are still fairly distinct, year in, year out.

While this is true for the southern states, in the northern parts of Australia, especially in the tropics, there are only two seasons - wet and dry. With no shoulder season in between, the climate in Darwin tends to be either hot, wet and humid or warm, dry and mild.

Darwin’s tropical climate

The dry season runs from May to September, roughly corresponding to autumn and winter in the southern states. During the dry season, Darwin and other northern locations experience clear skies and consistent temperatures, with little to no rainfall.

From October to November, heat and humidity increase as part of what’s known as “the build-up.”  This marks the end of the dry season and heralds the beginning of the wet season, which usually begins late November-early December.

The wet season, as the name suggests, brings monsoonal rains, increased cyclone activity and spectacular lightning displays. The wet season lasts from December to April, with most rain falling in December and January.

So, what does this mean for importers?

How the seasons can affect imports

With imports coming into Darwin by air and sea, delivery times and unloading can be affected by the different seasons. Imports that arrive in the dry season (May to September) aren’t normally impacted by dangerous conditions. With clear skies and consistent temperatures, shipping and air freight have a good chance of being delivered on time to importers during the dry.

On the other hand, imports that arrive in Darwin during the wet season (December to April) can be impacted by monsoonal rain, cyclones and lightning storms. With unpredictable weather activity, it can be difficult for planes and ships to arrive safely and unload quickly. As a result, importers may experience delays in the delivery of their goods during the wet season.

Potential wet season delays

Monsoonal rain

Darwin experiences a years’ worth of rain in a few short months which makes it harder to safely unload goods from ships or planes. Unsafe working conditions mean that customers may experience delays with container unpacks and transports during periods of heavy rain.

Lightning storms

Severe lightning storms light up the Darwin sky during the wet season, however, these light shows pose WHS risks for port staff and airport crew. In addition to delays in unloading, severe storms can prevent ships docking and planes landing, further lengthening delivery times.

Cyclones

The wet season also brings cyclones and severe tropical storms to Darwin. With winds often clocked at over 200kmh, cyclones and major storms can significantly impact importer timelines. Power outages, road closures and damaged warehouses can also contribute to delays.

What importers need to know

Darwin’s wet season can result in unavoidable delays for importers. If you’re planning on bringing goods to Australia between December to April, you need to be prepared for timelines to be extended due to monsoonal rain, lightning storms or cyclone activity.

You can’t do much about the weather, but avoidable delays can be eliminated by partnering with an experienced logistics partner.

Experienced customs brokers, PJ's Customs are here to guide importers through the customs and import process. To find out how we can help, drop into our Darwin office, email us logistics@pjscustoms.com.au or give us a call on 1300 395 760 for more information.