The town of Alice Springs, set in Central Australia on the mostly dry Todd River, is overlooked by the northern MacDonnell Ranges. Its surrounding region is known as the Red Centre of the continent and is an arid, desert environment made up of several ecosystems, all dry and hot.
The climate here is unstable year by year and features enormous variations of temperature both by day and night and by season.
Alice Springs weather is unpredictable, including its rain patterns.
Alice Springs weather is classified as a desert climate, although its average rainfall of 290mm normally results in a semi-arid classification.
Its high evaporation statistic, however, puts the climate firmly into the arid category.
Annual rainfall is erratic year on year, with some years receiving as much as 800m and others as little as 200m.
The Southern Hemisphere summer temperatures between September and the end of March can soar to as high as 50°C, although averages range around the 30s. December and January are the hottest months, and are best avoided by those visiting from colder climes.
The coolest month is July, with daytime highs barely reaching 19°C and night-time lows of around 4°C and, even in the hottest months, a dramatic fall in night-time temperatures.
November through the end of March sees the most rain, with December and January the wettest months.
Residents advise that the best month to visit is April, when the town’s surroundings are at their greenest, the nights aren’t freezing cold and the sights aren’t packed with tourists.
For a picture-perfect reminder of your sunset visit to Uluru/Ayers Rock uninterrupted by Alice Springs weather, September is the time to bring your camera as the sky is clear and the rock isn’t covered with climbers.