| Birdsville is located in the Temperate Zone with a generally arid
climate. Rainfall average totals 160mm each year occurring mostly in
summer with September being the driest month of the year. Daytime
temperatures in the region reach an extreme mid 40°C in the summer
(November - February) down to typical desert nights of 4°C in the
winter. Milder daytime temperatures reach (15-35°C) during the
winter months
Summer rains produce an abundance of native grasses whilst winter
rainfall results in a variety of lush herbage and attractive
displays of wildflowers particularly in the Simpson Desert to the
west of Birdsville.
Approximately every three to five years Birdsville will
experience a flood in the Dimantina River. The flood, as a result of
extensive rains in the river catchment further to the North, results
in the Diamantina bursting its banks and the river stretching out to
many kilometres in width and at times flooding all access roads into
Birdsville. It is not uncommon during a flood period for Birdsville
to be inaccessible by road for up to three weeks.
The image below was taken in February 2004 and shows the extent
of recent flooding around the Birdsville township
|
