THE WESTERLY WINDS OF BRISBANE; 
TVLA.'Y TO SEPTEMBER. 
(Read before the Queensland Philosophical Society , by Mr. Jas. 
Thorpe, May 20 th, 1880.) 
The interior of the Australian Continent has been sufficiently 
explored to warrant the assertion that there exists no extensive 
mountain range or elevated plateau therein which would account 
for the coldness of the winds supposed to blow from thence 
to our coast. The questions then arise, “Whence do these 
winds blow ? How can we account for their coldness and dry- 
ness ?” In the paper which I have the honour to read to-night 
I shall endeavour to reply to these questions, and to support the 
theory I advance by facts collected from the “ wind and weather 
reports” of this and the adjoining colonies. 
These winds, of which we get about six during the winter 
months — from May to September— blow with great force, have 
little humidity, and seemingly reach us from the western interior 
of the continent. I say “ seemingly” because a series of 
observations of the weather reports of Queensland stations show 
the apparent anomaly that whilst a strong westerly wind is felt 
in Brisbane, stations to the west of us do not feel it so strongly ; 
in fact, the further west we travel — towards the apparent source 
of this wind — the lighter does it become, until at length the 
direction of the current completely changes. As an example, I 
give the following table, the reading of which should be accom- 
panied by a reference to a map of Queensland : — 
Charleville. Eorna. Dalby. Toowoomba. Brisbane. 
S.E. calm. W., light. W., moderate. W., strong, 
Cunnamulla. Warwick. 
S.E. S.W., fresh. 
Further enquiry resulted in finding these winds to be con- 
current with, or subsequent to, gales on the southern coast of 
Australia, and accompanied by a rising barometer, e.g . : — 
1878 — June 10. — West wind, accompanied by rising barometer. 
In this case the rise was succeeded by a fall, the reading being 
very low at southern stations ; severe weather to southward. 
1878 — June 14, 15. — West wind ; rise in barometer. 
„ June 20, 21. — West wind ; rise in barometer. 
„ July 5, 6, 7. — West-south- west wind ; rise in barometer. 
„ July 26 to 29. — West winds. Falling barometer on the 
26th and 27th ; rising barometer on the 28th and 29th. 
„ August 18, 19, 20.— West wind ; rising barometer. 
In all these instances heavy weather — viz., gales of wind with 
rain — was prevalent at southern stations. 
