Bureau of Meteorology predicts showers to dampen Far North festivals

A mega weekend of events across the Far North will have a dark cloud looming as unexpected weather threatens to dampen the festivities. What events may be affected.

A MEGA weekend of events across the Far North will have a dark cloud looming as unexpected weather threatens to dampen the festivities.

Bureau of Meteorology Forecaster Brooke Pagel said while Cairns had been the envy of the rest of the country with its sunny and relatively warm winter weather, there would be wet days ahead.

“We are expecting that the system moving through the north of Australia will see showers increasing to the north tropical coast,” she said.

“There will be moderate falls on Saturday and Sunday, continuing in to next week.”

This spells trouble for events across the weekend with Cairns Festival kicking off on Friday with Great Barrier Reef light displays on the Esplanade nightly and a grand parade on Saturday.

Wet weather threatens to dampen the Cairns Festival Esplanade light display. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Cairns Cup will follow on Saturday afternoon at Cannon Park.

“There’s definitely a wet weekend ahead, so pack your brolly,” Ms Pagel said.

Coen Salmon, 2, and Lawan Salmon, 4, have fun running through the colourful lights at Reef Light – Illuminate the Tropics, before wet weather sets in. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Pagel expected the wet season to greet the Far North early.

“We are expecting Queensland to have a 75 per cent chance of an early wet season this year,” she said.

“The wet season is considered to be in place with the first accumulation of 50mm rainfall after the first of September but I would not be surprised if the wet season kicks in early.”

BOM has also released a wind warning for Saturday for areas including Cairns Coast, Torres Strait, Peninsula Coast and Cooktown Coast.

It reported there was an increased likelihood of tropical cyclone activity occurring in November, compared to non-La Niña years.

Saturday weather across the Far North.

Cairns – 27C High chance of showers

Atherton – 20C Shower or two

Cooktown – 27C High chance of showers

Innisfail – 24C High chance of showers

Mareeba – 25C Possible shower

Port Douglas – 26C High chance of showers

Yarrabah – 27C Showers increasing

Originally published as Bureau of Meteorology predicts showers to dampen Far North festivals