18°S 141°E Normanton – Queensland by Degrees

AT THE POINT The degree confluence (Google Earth Image) Location: Degree Confluence 18S 141E is located in Gulf Country, in far north-west Queensland. The closest settlement is Normanton (after which the degree square is named), approximately 36 km to the north-east. The confluence itself has yet to be visited, but access to the general area should be possible via private property tracks by 4WD. Landscape: Elevation at the degree confluence is approximately 15 m, and the landscape is a predominately flat plain, broken by the courses of numerous creeks, which could make the terrain muddy and boggy during the tropical summer rains. Human features include a fence just to the north and east of the point, and also what is likely to be a windpump nearly 3 km to the south-west. The Google Earth image also shows that the area surrounding the confluence is fairly densely vegetated. The major site of drainage for the site is the Flinders River, about 15 km to the west, which then flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria. The main geological features at the site include Cainozoic Pliocene-Holocene (5 million years ago-present) sedimentaries such as clay, silt, and Quartzose sand and gravel. Point Information By: Jo Grant   IN THE DEGREE SQUARE Climate: The closest representative weather station is at the Normanton Post Office, which is approximately 38 km north-north-east of the confluence, and has an elevation of 8 m. The station recorded data from 1872 until 2001. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean max (ºC) 34.7 33.9 34.2 34.0 31.7 29.2 29.1 31.1 33.9 35.9 36.8 36.1 33.4 Mean min (ºC) 25.1 24.9 24.4 22.4 19.1 16.1 15.2 16.5 22.6 24.8 25.3 21.3 21.3 Mean rain (mm) 260.2 249.2 157.7 30.9 7.5 9.2 3.2 1.7 3.0 10.5 45.1 144.4 921.5 The highest temperature recorded was 43.3°C in both November 1963 and December 1967, and the lowest was 6.6°C in August 1990. The greatest rainfall recorded in a year was 1 851.5 mm in 1974, and the least was 354.1 mm in 1884. These and other climate statistics for Normanton can be found at: Australian Bureau of Meteorology, http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_029041_All.shtml. Extremes of Nature: Given the area's tropical location, it is very much subject to the impact of tropical cyclones. The database maintained by the Bureau of Meteorology shows that 45 cyclones have passed within 200 km of the confluence since 1906, four of which passed within 50 km (two unnamed TCs in 1951, another unnamed TC in 1957, and TC Alan in 1976). These cyclones bring potentially destructive winds and intense rainfall with them. Cyclone information for this area and all of Australia can be found at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website, http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/cyclones.cgi. Cyclone tracks within 200 km of point 1906 to 2006 (Bureau of Meteorology web site) Like most places in the Australian tropics, extreme heat is also a danger. Records show that the Normanton Station experiences 137 days annually with temperatures 35°C or warmer, although very few of these reach over 40°C. Such extreme temperatures can cause heat stroke and death if appropriate measures are not taken such as avoiding strenuous physical effort, keeping as cool as possible and drinking lots of water. Heat waves kill more people in Australia than all other natural hazards combined.

Last updated 23 October 2009. Webpage created by Hayley Freemantle. For more information email projectofficer@rgsq.org.au Return to home