Geography of New South Wales

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Geography of New South Wales
New South Wales in Australia.svg
ContinentAustralia
Coordinates 32°S147°E / 32°S 147°E / -32; 147
Area Ranked 3rd among states and territories
  Total809,444 km2 (312,528 sq mi)
Coastline2,137 km (1,328 mi)
Borders Land borders: Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory
Highest point Mount Kosciuszko
2,228 metres (7,310 ft)
Longest river Murray River
1,721 kilometres (1,069 mi)
Largest lake Lake Eucumbene
4,798 square kilometres (1,853 sq mi)

New South Wales (abbreviated as NSW) is Australia's most populous state, located in the east coast of the continent. It is in the southern hemisphere between latitudes 28 and 38 degrees south of the equator and longitudes 141 and 154 degrees east of the Universal Prime Meridian (formerly known as the Greenwich meridian). The state is in the warm temperate climatic zone.

Contents

Features

The area of New South Wales is 809,444 km2 (312,528 sq mi). [1] The coastline is 2,137 km (1,328 mi) in length. [2]

Cape Byron, in the north-east of the state, is Australia's most easterly mainland point.

The state is bordered on the north by Queensland, on the west by South Australia, and on the south by Victoria. Its coast faces the Tasman Sea. New South Wales contains two Federal enclaves: the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and the Jervis Bay Territory.

New South Wales can be divided physically into four sections:

The steep escarpment of the Blue Mountains to the west of Sydney prevented European exploration beyond the coastal strip for several years until explorer Gregory Blaxland found a way through in 1813, 25 years after the first settlement in Sydney.

Cities and towns

Its four main cities from north to south are Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, and Wollongong which all lie along the coast. Other cities and towns include Albury, Broken Hill, Dubbo, Tamworth, Armidale, Lismore, Nowra, Griffith, Leeton, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.

Climate

Koppen climate types in New South Wales New South Wales Koppen.svg
Köppen climate types in New South Wales

Over half of New South Wales has an arid to semi-arid climate, where the rainfall is quite low. Summer temperatures are often very hot, while winter nights can be cold. Most of the rest of the state has a humid subtropical climate or an oceanic climate. Precipitation varies throughout the state. The north-west receives the least, getting less than 180 mm (7 in) annually, while most of the east receives between 700 and 1,400 mm (28 and 55 in) of rainfall. [3] Rainfall can be as high as 2,000 to 2,500 millimetres (79 to 98 in) in the wettest areas, such as Charlotte Pass [4] and Dorrigo. In the south, precipitation is heaviest in winter because of cold fronts which move across Australia, while in the north, rain is heaviest in summer from tropical systems and even cyclones on rare occasions. [3] During winter, the coastal plain cane be relatively dry because of foehn winds which blow from the Great Dividing Range. [5] The mountain can block cold fronts coming from the Southern Ocean, and can produce foehn winds on the leeward side. [6] [7]

The climate in the southern half of the state is generally warm and hot in the summer months and mild and cool in the winter. Sydney, the largest city, has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) with no dry season. [8] Wollongong is in the transitional zone between an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) and a humid subtropical climate. [9]

Snowfall can be common in the high-altitude parts of the range, occasionally occurring as far north as the Queensland border. On the highest peaks of the Snowy Mountains, the climate can be subpolar oceanic, a subarctic climate and even an alpine climate on the higher peaks with cold temperatures and heavy snowfall. The Blue Mountains, Southern Tablelands and Central Tablelands, which are situated on the Great Dividing Range, have mild or warm summers and cold winters, although not as cold as those in the Snowy Mountains. [3]

The highest maximum temperature recorded was 49.7 °C (121 °F) at Menindee on 10 January 1939 and at Bourke. [10] The lowest minimum temperature ever recorded was −23.0 °C (−9 °F) at Charlotte Pass in the Snowy Mountains on 29 June 1994. This is also the lowest temperature recorded in the whole of Australia. [10] [11] Charlotte Pass often has a snow depth of 2 metres in winter, [12] [13] [14] and snow has even accumulated and persisted in the middle of summer. [15] [16]

Climate data for New South Wales (Extremes)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)49.7
(121.5)
48.5
(119.3)
45.0
(113.0)
40.0
(104.0)
34.4
(93.9)
31.0
(87.8)
31.7
(89.1)
37.8
(100.0)
39.6
(103.3)
43.9
(111.0)
46.8
(116.2)
48.9
(120.0)
49.7
(121.5)
Record low °C (°F)−5.6
(21.9)
−7.0
(19.4)
−7.2
(19.0)
−13.0
(8.6)
−13.4
(7.9)
−23.0
(−9.4)
−19.6
(−3.3)
−20.6
(−5.1)
−16.7
(1.9)
−12.0
(10.4)
−9.4
(15.1)
−7.0
(19.4)
−23.0
(−9.4)
Source: Bureau of Meteorology [17]
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)45.8
(114.4)
42.1
(107.8)
39.8
(103.6)
35.4
(95.7)
30.0
(86.0)
26.9
(80.4)
26.5
(79.7)
31.3
(88.3)
34.6
(94.3)
38.2
(100.8)
41.8
(107.2)
42.2
(108.0)
45.8
(114.4)
Average high °C (°F)27.0
(80.6)
26.8
(80.2)
25.7
(78.3)
23.6
(74.5)
20.9
(69.6)
18.3
(64.9)
17.9
(64.2)
19.3
(66.7)
21.6
(70.9)
23.2
(73.8)
24.2
(75.6)
25.7
(78.3)
22.8
(73.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)23.5
(74.3)
23.4
(74.1)
22.1
(71.8)
19.5
(67.1)
16.6
(61.9)
14.2
(57.6)
13.4
(56.1)
14.5
(58.1)
17.0
(62.6)
18.9
(66.0)
20.4
(68.7)
22.1
(71.8)
18.8
(65.8)
Average low °C (°F)20.0
(68.0)
19.9
(67.8)
18.4
(65.1)
15.3
(59.5)
12.3
(54.1)
10.0
(50.0)
8.9
(48.0)
9.7
(49.5)
12.3
(54.1)
14.6
(58.3)
16.6
(61.9)
18.4
(65.1)
14.7
(58.5)
Record low °C (°F)10.6
(51.1)
9.6
(49.3)
9.3
(48.7)
7.0
(44.6)
4.4
(39.9)
2.1
(35.8)
2.2
(36.0)
2.7
(36.9)
4.9
(40.8)
5.7
(42.3)
7.7
(45.9)
9.1
(48.4)
2.1
(35.8)
Average rainfall mm (inches)91.1
(3.59)
131.5
(5.18)
117.5
(4.63)
114.1
(4.49)
100.8
(3.97)
142.0
(5.59)
80.3
(3.16)
75.1
(2.96)
63.4
(2.50)
67.7
(2.67)
90.6
(3.57)
73.0
(2.87)
1,149.7
(45.26)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm)8.29.010.17.97.99.37.25.65.87.68.77.995.2
Average afternoon relative humidity (%)60625958585652474953575856
Average dew point °C (°F)16.5
(61.7)
17.2
(63.0)
15.4
(59.7)
12.7
(54.9)
10.3
(50.5)
7.8
(46.0)
6.1
(43.0)
5.4
(41.7)
7.8
(46.0)
10.2
(50.4)
12.6
(54.7)
14.6
(58.3)
11.4
(52.5)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 232.5205.9210.8213.0204.6171.0207.7248.0243.0244.9222.0235.62,639
Percent possible sunshine 53545563635766726761555560
Source 1: Bureau of Meteorology [18] [19]
Source 2: Bureau of Meteorology, Sydney Airport (sunshine hours) [20]
Climate data for Wollongong (Köppen Cfb/Cfa)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)44.1
(111.4)
41.7
(107.1)
40.2
(104.4)
35.4
(95.7)
28.5
(83.3)
24.7
(76.5)
25.7
(78.3)
30.3
(86.5)
34.2
(93.6)
38.8
(101.8)
40.6
(105.1)
41.5
(106.7)
44.1
(111.4)
Mean maximum °C (°F)29.7
(85.5)
29.4
(84.9)
28.0
(82.4)
26.3
(79.3)
23.1
(73.6)
20.5
(68.9)
20.0
(68.0)
22.0
(71.6)
25.6
(78.1)
27.9
(82.2)
28.0
(82.4)
30.4
(86.7)
30.4
(86.7)
Average high °C (°F)25.6
(78.1)
25.6
(78.1)
24.5
(76.1)
22.5
(72.5)
20.0
(68.0)
17.6
(63.7)
17.0
(62.6)
18.3
(64.9)
20.3
(68.5)
22.1
(71.8)
22.9
(73.2)
25.0
(77.0)
21.8
(71.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)21.8
(71.2)
21.9
(71.4)
20.6
(69.1)
18.4
(65.1)
15.9
(60.6)
13.6
(56.5)
12.7
(54.9)
13.6
(56.5)
15.5
(59.9)
17.4
(63.3)
18.7
(65.7)
20.8
(69.4)
17.6
(63.6)
Average low °C (°F)17.9
(64.2)
18.2
(64.8)
16.7
(62.1)
14.2
(57.6)
11.8
(53.2)
9.5
(49.1)
8.3
(46.9)
8.8
(47.8)
10.6
(51.1)
12.6
(54.7)
14.4
(57.9)
16.5
(61.7)
13.3
(55.9)
Mean minimum °C (°F)15.0
(59.0)
15.4
(59.7)
14.0
(57.2)
10.9
(51.6)
8.3
(46.9)
6.0
(42.8)
5.0
(41.0)
5.5
(41.9)
7.2
(45.0)
9.1
(48.4)
11.0
(51.8)
13.4
(56.1)
5.0
(41.0)
Record low °C (°F)9.6
(49.3)
10.3
(50.5)
9.1
(48.4)
5.1
(41.2)
3.1
(37.6)
2.0
(35.6)
0.8
(33.4)
2.0
(35.6)
3.3
(37.9)
4.7
(40.5)
5.4
(41.7)
8.3
(46.9)
0.8
(33.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)130.3
(5.13)
156.4
(6.16)
160.4
(6.31)
129.3
(5.09)
106.4
(4.19)
112.4
(4.43)
63.4
(2.50)
83.3
(3.28)
67.4
(2.65)
100.5
(3.96)
115.6
(4.55)
97.3
(3.83)
1,322.7
(52.08)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)10.510.410.88.37.87.15.95.66.78.410.49.1101
Average relative humidity (%)69.071.068.064.064.062.058.054.555.060.565.065.563.0
Average dew point °C (°F)16.7
(62.1)
17.1
(62.8)
15.5
(59.9)
12.7
(54.9)
10.3
(50.5)
7.4
(45.3)
5.6
(42.1)
5.8
(42.4)
7.7
(45.9)
10.5
(50.9)
12.7
(54.9)
14.8
(58.6)
11.4
(52.5)
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (temperature, precipitation, humidity- 1970–2008 normals and extremes) [21]
Climate data for Broken Hill (Köppen BWh)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)46.3
(115.3)
45.5
(113.9)
41.3
(106.3)
36.8
(98.2)
28.5
(83.3)
26.1
(79.0)
26.2
(79.2)
31.0
(87.8)
37.0
(98.6)
39.0
(102.2)
44.7
(112.5)
45.6
(114.1)
46.3
(115.3)
Mean maximum °C (°F)40.6
(105.1)
38.7
(101.7)
35.7
(96.3)
30.3
(86.5)
24.6
(76.3)
19.9
(67.8)
19.8
(67.6)
23.0
(73.4)
29.0
(84.2)
33.2
(91.8)
36.4
(97.5)
38.6
(101.5)
40.6
(105.1)
Average high °C (°F)33.8
(92.8)
32.6
(90.7)
29.1
(84.4)
24.5
(76.1)
19.3
(66.7)
16.0
(60.8)
15.8
(60.4)
18.0
(64.4)
21.9
(71.4)
25.6
(78.1)
29.1
(84.4)
31.7
(89.1)
24.8
(76.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)26.6
(79.9)
25.7
(78.3)
22.3
(72.1)
18.0
(64.4)
13.6
(56.5)
10.8
(51.4)
10.3
(50.5)
11.9
(53.4)
15.3
(59.5)
18.2
(64.8)
22.1
(71.8)
24.6
(76.3)
18.3
(64.9)
Average low °C (°F)19.4
(66.9)
18.7
(65.7)
15.4
(59.7)
11.5
(52.7)
7.9
(46.2)
5.5
(41.9)
4.8
(40.6)
5.7
(42.3)
8.6
(47.5)
11.7
(53.1)
15.0
(59.0)
17.4
(63.3)
11.8
(53.2)
Mean minimum °C (°F)13.4
(56.1)
13.0
(55.4)
10.2
(50.4)
6.6
(43.9)
3.3
(37.9)
1.0
(33.8)
0.8
(33.4)
1.5
(34.7)
4.2
(39.6)
6.6
(43.9)
9.2
(48.6)
11.8
(53.2)
0.8
(33.4)
Record low °C (°F)8.0
(46.4)
6.7
(44.1)
6.3
(43.3)
3.1
(37.6)
−0.6
(30.9)
−2.5
(27.5)
−2.9
(26.8)
−1.6
(29.1)
−0.9
(30.4)
1.0
(33.8)
4.7
(40.5)
7.0
(44.6)
−2.9
(26.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)26.0
(1.02)
26.1
(1.03)
18.3
(0.72)
14.4
(0.57)
14.0
(0.55)
16.0
(0.63)
17.2
(0.68)
15.5
(0.61)
19.5
(0.77)
17.7
(0.70)
22.4
(0.88)
17.6
(0.69)
224.7
(8.85)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)2.42.32.11.72.52.43.02.92.62.63.32.330.1
Average relative humidity (%)33.538.038.541.054.562.560.048.544.036.535.533.043.8
Average dew point °C (°F)7.5
(45.5)
9.1
(48.4)
7.2
(45.0)
5.7
(42.3)
6.0
(42.8)
5.2
(41.4)
3.9
(39.0)
2.8
(37.0)
3.7
(38.7)
3.5
(38.3)
5.1
(41.2)
5.6
(42.1)
5.4
(41.8)
Source 1: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (temperature, precipitation, humidity- 1991–2020 normals) [22]
Source 2: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1947–present extremes) [23]
Climate data for Charlotte Pass (Köppen Dfc)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)29.7
(85.5)
28.0
(82.4)
24.5
(76.1)
19.8
(67.6)
16.2
(61.2)
12.3
(54.1)
9.0
(48.2)
11.1
(52.0)
15.6
(60.1)
20.5
(68.9)
28.3
(82.9)
28.9
(84.0)
29.7
(85.5)
Average high °C (°F)17.9
(64.2)
17.2
(63.0)
14.7
(58.5)
10.4
(50.7)
6.8
(44.2)
3.3
(37.9)
1.9
(35.4)
2.6
(36.7)
5.0
(41.0)
9.4
(48.9)
12.8
(55.0)
15.5
(59.9)
9.8
(49.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)11.7
(53.1)
11.1
(52.0)
8.7
(47.7)
5.0
(41.0)
2.1
(35.8)
−0.9
(30.4)
−2.3
(27.9)
−1.5
(29.3)
0.9
(33.6)
4.5
(40.1)
7.5
(45.5)
9.6
(49.3)
4.7
(40.5)
Average low °C (°F)5.4
(41.7)
5.0
(41.0)
2.6
(36.7)
−0.5
(31.1)
−2.7
(27.1)
−5.2
(22.6)
−6.6
(20.1)
−5.7
(21.7)
−3.3
(26.1)
−0.4
(31.3)
2.1
(35.8)
3.7
(38.7)
−0.5
(31.2)
Record low °C (°F)−5.6
(21.9)
−5.5
(22.1)
−6.7
(19.9)
−13.0
(8.6)
−13.4
(7.9)
−23.0
(−9.4)
−19.6
(−3.3)
−20.6
(−5.1)
−16.7
(1.9)
−12.0
(10.4)
−9.4
(15.1)
−7.0
(19.4)
−23.0
(−9.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)128.0
(5.04)
132.9
(5.23)
141.0
(5.55)
150.2
(5.91)
178.0
(7.01)
180.2
(7.09)
181.0
(7.13)
201.1
(7.92)
189.2
(7.45)
206.7
(8.14)
189.9
(7.48)
150.1
(5.91)
2,028.3
(79.86)
Average precipitation days10.310.410.110.611.912.812.212.911.011.011.79.0133.9
Average relative humidity (%)62626167758690877968656272
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Charlotte Pass (Kosciuszko Chalet)

See also

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Narooma is a town in the Australian state of New South Wales on the far south coast. The town is on the Princes Highway, which crosses the Wagonga Inlet to North Narooma. The heritage town of Central Tilba is nearby to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Coast (New South Wales)</span> Region in New South Wales, Australia

The South Coast refers to the narrow coastal belt from Shoalhaven district in the north to the border with Victoria in the south in the south-eastern part of the State of New South Wales, Australia. It is bordered to the west by the coastal escarpment of the Southern Tablelands, and is largely covered by a series of national parks, namely Jervis Bay National Park, Eurobodalla National Park, and Beowa National Park. To the east is the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, which is characterised by rolling farmlands, small towns and villages along a rocky coastline, interspersed by numerous beaches and lakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jervis Bay Village</span> Town in the Jervis Bay Territory, Australia

Jervis Bay Village is a village in the Jervis Bay Territory, Australia. HMAS Creswell Royal Australian Navy base is located in the town. Apart from the navy base there is an Aboriginal community in the town. It is the largest town in the Jervis Bay Territory, with 189 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Western Slopes</span> Bioregion in New South Wales, Australia

The South Western Slopes, also known as the South West Slopes, is a region predominantly in New South Wales, Australia. It covers the lower inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range, extending from north of Dunedoo through central NSW and into northeast Victoria, meeting its southwestern end around Beechworth. More than 90% of the region is in the state of New South Wales and it occupies about 10% of that state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Sydney</span> Climate of the city in Australia

The climate of the city of Sydney, Australia is humid subtropical, shifting from mild and cool in winter to warm and hot in the summer, with no extreme seasonal differences as the weather is moderated by proximity to the ocean, although more contrasting temperatures are recorded in the inland western suburbs. Despite the fact that there is no distinct dry or wet season, rainfall peaks in the first few months of the year and is at its lowest just around the middle of the year, though precipitation can be erratic throughout the year. Precipitation varies across the region, with areas adjacent to the coast being the wettest. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Sydney falls in the temperate climate zone which has warm to hot summers and no dry season. Sydney's plant hardiness zone ranges from zone 11a to 9b throughout the metropolitan area. Under the Holdridge Life Zones classification, eastern Sydney falls in the Subtropical Moist Forest zone and the western suburbs in the Subtropical Dry Forest zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Australia</span>

Australia's climate is governed mostly by its size and by the hot, sinking air of the subtropical high pressure belt. This moves north-west and north-east with the seasons. The climate is variable, with frequent droughts lasting several seasons, thought to be caused in part by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Australia has a wide variety of climates due to its large geographical size. The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid. Only the south-east and south-west corners have a temperate climate and moderately fertile soil. The northern part of the country has a tropical climate, varying between grasslands and desert. Australia holds many heat-related records: the continent has the hottest extended region year-round, the areas with the hottest summer climate, and the highest sunshine duration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Tasmania</span>

Tasmania has a cool temperate climate with four distinct seasons. The highest recorded maximum temperature in Tasmania is 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) at Scamander on 30 January 2009, during the 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave. Tasmania's lowest recorded minimum temperature is −14.2 °C (6.4 °F) on 7 August 2020, at Central Plateau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humid subtropical climate</span> Transitional climatic zone

A humid subtropical climate is a temperate climate type characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents, generally between latitudes 25° and 40° and are located poleward from adjacent tropical climates. It is also known as warm temperate climate in some climate classifications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Queensland</span> Geography of Queensland in north-east of Australia

The geography of Queensland in the north-east of Australia, is varied. It includes tropical islands, sandy beaches, flat river plains that flood after monsoon rains, tracts of rough, elevated terrain, dry deserts, rich agricultural belts and densely populated urban areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Australian temperate forests</span> Ecoregion in Australia

The Eastern Australian temperate forests is a broad ecoregion of open forest on uplands starting from the east coast of New South Wales in the South Coast to southern Queensland, Australia. Although dry sclerophyll and wet sclerophyll eucalyptus forests predominate within this ecoregion, a number of distinguishable rainforest communities are present as well.

Australian rivers have been subject to devastating floods in New South Wales, recorded since colonisation. Flooding in New South Wales has predominately been caused by excessive flows into rivers located in New South Wales and, to a lesser extent, excessive flows into rivers located in Queensland and Victoria. Floods can devastate local communities and impact the entire local economy.

The 2011 Wollongong floods, beginning in March 2011, were a series of floods occurring throughout Wollongong and the Illawarra regions of New South Wales, Australia. The floods were the result of a storm cell covering most of the southern regions of the state and torrential rain in suburban Sydney and nearby regional areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian east coast low</span>

Australian east coast lows are extratropical cyclones or low-pressure systems on the coast of southeastern Australia that may be caused by both mid-latitude and tropical influences over a variety of levels in the atmosphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southeast Australian foehn</span> Weather event in Australia

The southeast Australian foehn is a westerly foehn wind and a rain shadow effect that usually occurs on the coastal plain of southern New South Wales, and as well as in southeastern Victoria and eastern Tasmania, on the leeward side of the Great Dividing Range. Ranging from cool to hot, the effect occurs when westerly winds descend steeply from the Great Dividing Range onto the coastal slopes, whereby causing major adiabatic compression and a substantial loss of moisture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian High</span>

The Australian High, also known as the Australian subtropical ridge, is a large, semi-permanent high pressure area or subtropical anticyclone that seasonally vacillates between the Great Australian Bight in the south to the Northern Territory in the north. It is generally located between 25 and 40 degrees of south latitude, depending on the season.

References

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