Page:Hunt - The climate and weather of Australia - 1913.djvu/115

Rh inches—Goondiwindi, 9.11; Umbercollie, 9.90; and Bingarra, 19.44 being the heaviest falls recorded. The enormous amount of water which fell over these districts, covering approximately 86,000 square miles, may be roughly estimated at 31,687,000,000 tons, or 7,100,000,000,000 gallons, the average total fall for the 77 rain recording stations from the 11th to the 15th inclusive being 5.7 inches. The very heavy falls in the Namoi Basin on the 14th and 15th, reaching as high as 6½ inches for 24 hours in some places, succeeding the moderately heavy falls of several days before, caused the flood in this tributary to rise higher than that in any other river. The water spread itself over the country for miles in every direction, devastating the surrounding districts and wreaking incalculable destruction of property, as well as causing some loss of life. Almost all the towns along its banks were inundated, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Manilla, Boggabri, Narrabri, and Wee Waa suffering particularly. Our observers report that this flood is the greatest since 1864, the water being 6 feet deep in the streets of Tamworth, while at Narrabri the river attained the greatest height ever known. The Gwydir and Barwon also reached record heights, both Moree and Brewarrina being partly submerged. Bourke appeared to be threatened with destruction. If the Queensland rivers, Condamine, Balonne, and Culgoa, which drain a large area and enter the Darling between Bourke and Brewarrina, had contributed their quota to the already ﬂooded stream, Bourke must inevitably have been swept away; but, fortunately, this was not the case, as these waters did not reach Bourke till some days later. All the creeks and smaller water-courses were likewise in a flooded state, and the waters covered an extensive area. The thirsty plains would absorb an immense quantity of water on this account, as the contour of the country is conducive to such a result. Thousands of head of stock were drowned, and, generally speaking, the amount of damage was enormous.

(3).

The Queensland coast is characterized by occasional very heavy downpours. These are almost entirely confined to the summer months, as the following table (for storms giving over 10 inches during 23 years, 1887-1909) clearly indicates:—

The Map (Fig. 89) shows that a few large downpours have also occurred in the gulf country around Burketown. With these exceptions, only one other inland fall was recorded—at Monkira, in the far south-west. Here, over 11 inches fell on 1st February, 1906, the average annual fall (21 years) being 9 inches. This station forms a notable example of the necessity of long periods to arrive at a true mean. In 1900 the annual rainfall was 2½ inches, and in 1906 it was 29 inches.