Queensland Coastal Weather Station Details

About coastal observations | Qld coastal observations | Map of Qld coastal stations
When using wind data, it is important to remember most coastal stations are located on land so wind speeds may be unrepresentative of the actual wind conditions further out to sea. The reasons for this include:

  • the decrease in wind speed over the land due to the generally rougher land surface.
  • the effects of local topography, especially funnelling near and around headlands.
  • the effects of inshore sea and land breezes.

Some stations are a good distance away from the coast but have been included as they provide some helpful information in areas where there are no other weather stations.
Note: Values for the distance in kilometres from the coast have been rounded up to one decimal place. Values of less than 0.2 km (200 metres) are identified as 'on the coast'.

Station name Station Height (Metres above sea level) Kilometres from coast Site of anemometer
EASTERN GULF of CARPENTARIA
Mornington Island 8.5 m Island Airport, south west of island
Sweers Island 4 m Island Airport, south west of island
Kowanyama 9.5 m 25 km Airport
Weipa 18 m 9 km Airport
TORRES STRAIT to COOKTOWN
Horn Island 4 m Island - 1 km Airport, north of island
Coconut Island 3.5 m Island Flat area, however recorded wind speeds from the southeast direction are generally lower than the actual speed due to nearby trees.
Lockhart River 17.5 m 7 km Airport
Cape Flattery 18.5 m On the coast Sandy flat area
COOKTOWN to CARDWELL
Cooktown 5 m 5 km Airport
Low Isles 3 m Island Top of lighthouse
Cairns 3 m 1 km Airport
Green Island 3 m Island Elevated platform
Norman Reef 2 m Over water Floating platform
Moore Reef 2 m Over water Floating platform
Innisfail 8 m On the coast Sloping ground
South Johnstone 18.5 m 11 km Flat farmland
CARDWELL to BOWEN
Cardwell 5 m On the coast Flat area
Lucinda 10 m Over water Roof of sugar loader facility
Townsville 4 m 2 km Airport
Alva Beach 7.5 m On the coast Flat area
Cape Ferguson 3.0 m On the coast On a Jetty. Wind recorded 8 metres above station height (estimated)
BOWEN to ST LAWRENCE
Bowen 5 m 2 km Airport
Hamilton Island 58 m Island On hill top
Proserpine 19 m 14 km Airport
Creal Reef 1.5 m Over water Top of pontoon
Mackay 30.5 m 0.5 km On hill top
Hay Point 4.5 m On the coast At tug harbour
Middle Percy Island 209 m Island - 1.5 km On hill top, centre of island
Gannett Cay 2.5 m Over water Reef platform
St Lawrence 9 m 11 km Flat area
St Lawrence Post Office 17 m 10 km Town yard
CORAL SEA
Bougainville Reef 0 m Over water Reef platform
Holmes Reef 2 m Over water Reef platform
Willis Island 8 m Small island On rolling ground
Lihou Reef 3 m Over water Reef platform
Flinders Reef 2.5 m Over water Platform
Marion Reef 2 m Over water Platform
Creal Reef 1.5 m Over water Top of pontoon
Gannett Cay 2.5 m Over water Reef platform
Cato Island 6.5 m Small island Flat area
Frederick Reef 5 m Over water Floating platform
ST LAWRENCE to BURNETT HEADS/SANDY CAPE
St Lawrence 9 m 11 km Flat area
St Lawrence Post Office 17 m 10 km Town yard
Samuel Hill 31 m 16 km Airport
Yeppoon 5.5 m On the coast Flat area
Rosslyn Bay Harbour 2 m On the coast In harbour. Nearby hill to South
Rundle Island 20 m Small island On hill top
Gladstone 75 m 1.5 km Near ridgetop
Heron Island 3.5 m Island Elevated platform
Lady Elliot Island 3.5 m Island Airport
Town of 1770 34 m On the coast Elevated rolling ground
BURNETT HEADS/SANDY CAPE to DOUBLE ISLAND POINT
Sandy Cape 99 m 1 km from water On lighthouse
Bundaberg 27 m 16 km Airport
Hervey Bay 14.5 m 2.5 km Airport
Rainbow Beach 14.5 m On the coast Flat area
DOUBLE ISLAND POINT to COOLANGATTA
Double Island Point 94.5 m On the coast On clifftop
Tewantin 6.5 m 4 km On rolling ground
Maroochydore 3.5 m 1 km Airport
Cape Moreton 100 m On the coast On clifftop
Spitfire Channel 7 m Over water Marine platform
Inner Beacon 20 m Over water Marine platform
Banana Bank 7 m Over water Marine platform
Brisbane Airport 4 m 4 km Airport
Redcliffe 12.5 m On the coast On jetty
Point Lookout 49 m On the coast Elevated rolling ground
Gold Coast Seaway 3 m On the coast Coastal dunes
Coolangatta 6 m 1 km Airport