North West Slopes | |||||||||||||
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| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | New South Wales | ||||||||||||
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TheNorth West Slopes region ofNew South Wales, Australia, refers generally to the area west of theNorthern Tablelands, to the north of theCentral West region and to the east of theFar West region. Despite its name, the region is in north-central New South Wales, corresponding generally to the AustralianBureau of Meteorology's forecast area ofNorth West Slopes and Plains. The administrative areas of the region include the city ofTamworth,Gunnedah,Moree,Narrabri andInverell.[1]
The region is higher, hillier and wetter on its eastern edge than on its western edge; with the exception of the steeply-risingNandewar Range which lies in the west of the region. The North West Slopes are situated on various tributaries to theDarling River, such as theBarwon,Gwydir, andNamoi Rivers, which rise in theGreat Dividing Range country to its east.
The region has one city,Tamworth. The North West Slopes also includes the towns ofGunnedah,Warialda,Manilla,Boggabri,Mungindi,Narrabri,Moree,Quirindi andWee Waa; and many villages.[2]
It has traditionally been a majorwheat-growing area, but in recent decades irrigated crops, especiallycotton, have become significant. The primary exports are cotton,coal, beef, lamb and pork, cereal and oilseed grains.
The North West region is traversed by theNew England Highway, theNewell Highway, theKamilaroi Highway, theOxley Highway and theGwydir Highway; and by railways such as theMain Western railway line, linkingBourke toSydney with connections to the port ofNewcastle. TheMain North railway line trains no longer continue to theQueensland border, but Werris Creek, Tamworth andKootingal are still served by theNSW TrainLink Xplorer service between Sydney andArmidale.
Mount Kaputar National Park, near Narrabri, is within the North West Slopes region.
This region is often included as part of theNew England region. Sometimes the region is also known as theNew England North West[3] or less commonly the Northern Inland Region[4] when it also includes the Northern Tablelands.
Local Government Areas includeGunnedah Shire,Liverpool Plains Shire,Moree Plains Shire,Narrabri Shire,Gwydir Shire andTamworth Regional Council.
The climate here is at the mercy of theHorse Latitudes high pressure belt for the grand majority of the year. Thus a distinct summer rainfall peak is observed, in stark contrast to its more poleward counterpart, theSouth West Slopes (wherein a spring or winter rainfall peak is observed). The seasonal range of maximum temperatures is also strikingly narrower than that observed in the South West Slopes.
Summers are long, stable and very hot, with severe thunderstorms andsupercells a frequent occurrence. Winters are considerably sunnier than those further south; cold by nightfall, though mild and sometimes even warm by day; constituting a great diurnal range and frequent, oftentimes heavy frost.
Snow is a very rare occurrence in the lowlands (snow has been recorded as low asGunnedah), though it occurs annually on high-points such as theNandewar Range,Warrumbungles andCoolah Tops. Even so, it is far from a regular occurrence on account of the region's northern latitude. In nearly all cases, a snowfall event this far north requires acut-off low system: in which the coldest air bypasses the usual southern alpine regions, instead advancing in a north-northeasterly direction up the centre of New South Wales.
