John Lort Stokes

“ The west coast of New Holland is at times visited by sudden squalls, resembling hurricanes. I was told by the master of an American whaler, that in March 1839, when in company with several whalers off Sharks' Bay, he experienced some very bad weather, which came on suddenly, without having given any previous warning, but it was not of long continuance; the gusts of wind were very violent, shifting suddenly to all points of the compass. Some of the ships suffered considerable damage, in loss of topmasts, etc. others in sails, but all more or less. ”

“ The first of this weather usually lasts from a week to fourteen days; then comes an interval of fine weather, generally of a fortnight's duration, and sometimes a month; after which the rains set in more constant, and the intervals of fine weather are shorter; this weather lasts until October, and at times throughout that month.
During the intervals of fine weather the climate is delightful, and the country has a fresh and pleasing appearance; land and seabreezes are as regular as in summer, with the exception, that the latter are much more moderate. ”

“ In the winter a ship may occasionally make a quick passage to the southward, if happening to be upon the coast during a northerly gale; and as all these gales are preceded by N.E. winds, a sufficient offing may be gained to enable her to run on, when the wind gets to the southward of west. ”

“ At times the land wind veers round the compass, and is then generally stronger than usual; blowing fresh for a short time from N.E., and bringing a parching heat from the land; upon these occasions the seabreeze comes in from a more western point, and is lighter.
At Swan River, in the months of December, January, and February, the seabreezes are very strong, for intervals of from three to five days; during which time they blow fresh throughout the night—drawing to the southward after midnight, and towards sunrise to S.S.E. and S.E., but more moderate. ”

“ We experienced similar winds between Melville Island and Port Essington, but being a short distance from the land, the nights were not calm, although the winds were very light.
During the easterly monsoon, it is difficult to get to the eastward, as at a few miles from the land the current is always running to the westward, and runs strong past the projecting points; but by contriving to be near the land at daylight, at which time the wind is always more southerly, something may be gained. ”

“ This season seems to vary but little as to the time and manner of setting in—it is ushered in by blowing weather, from about N.N.E., the wind gradually veering round to the westward, as it increases in strength. ”

“ During the latter part of the period (November and December) the winds were more constantly from the W. or W.N.W., blowing from that quarter throughout the twenty-four hours, but much more moderate at night than during the day; at full and change of the moon, the breezes were much stronger than at other times, and upon one or two occasions, at the time of the moon's quartering, there was a light breeze from S.E. in the morning. ”

“ They blow with great violence, and are accompanied by dark, gloomy weather, and rain. It is then unsafe to be near the land—as the gale that commences at N.N.E., invariably veers to the westward, making a lee shore of the whole line of coast, and between W.N.W. and W.S.W. blows the hardest. ”