Glenda raises Wet Season the Big tropic topic
Black Eye of the November
Storm Season signals Wet
on the way |
Glenda Pummeroy says she has seen lots about the roads and whether they are passable or not during the Wet. But she wants to know exactly where (locality) the Wet Season is. She is travelling with a sedan and caravan and wants to avoid living in the Wet Season. So here are some words on faces of the Wet Season in the North of Australia.
Hello Glenda. Thanks for a Big tropic topic
You will find our Savannah Way feature helpful. Just knock Savannah Way into the Multi-Search box on the top right of the Home Page.
Between October and April in northern Australia warm, wet monsoonal northwest winds bring the season which gives The Wet its name.
It must be a sign Wet Season on the way |
In the far north of Australia Darwin can get 1500mm (59 in) of rain during the Wet season.
The Wet has a series of faces recognised by Aboriginal people. The Burarra people of Arnhem Land, NT recognise four seasons. They have lived on their land 530km east of Darwin for about 40,000 years.
Each season has its own pattern of winds and weather.
We went fishing with the Tiwi people of Melville Island, at Munupi Wilderness Lodge north of Darwin, in November 2005. Tjamutakari (wet season) brings 2500mm of rain.
Knock Tiwi into the Multi-Search box on the top of the Home Page to read features on Tiwi, heritage, art and amazing fishing.
On Melville Island, in Darwin and in Western Australia’s Kimberley the storms are spectacular and the country bursts with colour and lush foliage as the rains come.
Picking the gap Storm Season clouds over Apsley Strait Melville Island |
In Northern Australia there is the “build up” October- November on growing humidity carried by the monsoon. The air is hot and heavy and living is uncomfortable.
The storm season is from October to January. The storm season lives up to its name - roads are often cut for a day or two following torrents of afternoon rain.
January to March is the “Wet” and roads will be closed. You can be stuck for days or weeks.
High rainfall during this time means the conditions of the unsealed roads can change rapidly in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia’s north.
Travellers should always ring an accredited information centre first if they are thinking of travelling in the summer or wet season, or in Queensland visit the RACQ website (www.racq.com.au) for the latest advice on road conditions.
A Wet Season farewell to Pirlangimpi |
Australia’s tropical regions include the central and northern parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland, and the northern parts of Western Australia.
The Wet Season (Monsoon) in Australia applies north of the Tropic of Capricorn. The Tropic of Capricorn dissects Australia from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean.
There is a Tropic of Capricorn, - 23.5 deg south of the equator, rest area on the Stuart Hwy, NT with 24 hour overnight camping. You can “cross the line” into the tropics.
Each year around December 21- 22 the sun reaches is negative southerly declination over the Tropic of Capricorn.
Southside Holiday Village Top Tourist Park, Rockhampton is a Central Queensland Tourist Park on GoSeeAustralia “On the Tropic of Capricorn”.
Important tips:
Croc's nest Window on the Wetlands |
1. Tempting as it might be to stop by the side of the road and take a swim in one of Northern Australia’s rivers, think again as they are often inhabited by both salt water and freshwater crocodiles.
Many areas are sign-posted, however, this is not always the case, so don’t rely on that.
Read our Living with Wild Australia series. Just key wild into the Multi-Search box on the top right of the Home Page.
2. Whilst most of Savannah Way is sealed check the road reports before taking off during the wet season (December/Jan. – March).
Phone: 1300 130 595 for a 24-hour road report in Qld or visit www.racq.com.au
Phone: 1800 246 199 for a 24-hour road report in NT or visit www.roadreport.nt.gov.au
Phone: 1800 013 314 for a 24-hour road report in WA or visit www.mainroads.wa.gov.au
The Dry Season is generally late April to early October.
Hope this helps, Garth
Opening picture: Storm season in November on Melville Island. That is a solid wall of warm water coming at us.
Editor's Note: Also See -
Be croc wise in Northern Australia
Tiwi art draws creation from the Melville Island land itself
Try Munupi fishing, Tiwi Islands NT style and...
Living with Wild Australia - Marine stingers can be deadly
Living with Wild Australia - Sharks
GoSeeAustralia looks at How to Live with Wild Australia and learns Australian snakes are scared of you
Dingo, important predator in natural Australia
For more information
contact: Garth Morrison
Editor Go See Australia and Go See New Zealand Directory
Email: garth@contact.com.au
A word about crocs |
Anyone for a swim freshwater croc Tumbling Waters NT |
Munupi arts through the rainstorm |
Road train roulette in the Storm Season |
Rob in the Storm Season shower Build-up to the Wet November 2005 |
Slide worn bank means big croc |
Wangi Falls Litchfield Nat Park NT Croc signs |
Yes this saltwater croc is about 17ft |
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