Page:Hunt - The climate and weather of Australia - 1913.djvu/78

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34

Furthermore, along the coast from Port Stephens to Ulladulla is an "enclave" of autumn rains. This includes Sydney, and forms a narrow coastal strip with heavy rains in February, March, April, May, and June, and moderate rains in the remaining months. An explanation of this is suggested in the following paragraphs, based on conditions in 1912.

During these autumn months the anticyclones move along latitudes of about 35° S. (In midwinter this path is along 28° and in midsummer along 42°. In Spring the paths are much the same as in autumn.)

About once a week during the autumn months of 1912 this coastal strip experienced rains, while the rest of New South Wales was dry. This rain generally accompanied south-east on-shore winds, in the front and north of a high, as shown in Fig. 59. Out of nineteen examples of this type of rain distribution, in autumn, 1912, no less than fifteen occurred when the "high" was centred about the Bass Straits. (Roughly, between Mt. Gambier and Gabo.)

Meteorological data for the following stations is given in the tables:—

Town. State. Height. Distance
from
Coast.
Description.
    Feet. Miles.  
Wilcannia New South Wales 267 300 An inland town in the Western Plains
Dubbo New South Wales 870 200 On the western slopes of the Divide
Newcastle New South Wales .. .. Coastal town near boundary of uniform regions and autumn rains
Sydney New South Wales 146 .. Capital, on the coast, with autumn maximum
Moruya New South Wales .. .. Coastal town in the south
Yass New South Wales 1,650 100 On the western slopes of the Divide
Kiandra New South Wales 4,640 100 Highest town in Australia
Sale Victoria .. .. Coastal town in drier region of Gippsland
Melbourne Victoria 115 .. Capital, at south-west corner of uniform region
Hobart Tasmania 160 .. Capital, on south-east of island