Hot and humid: Temperature hits record highs in Cairns

Temperatures hit all time highs as data reveals that Cairns has come out of one of the hottest Decembers in recorded history. FIND OUT HOW HIGH THE MERCURY CLIMBED

Records reveal sweltering temperatures, as Cairns leaves the third hottest December holiday period recorded of all time.

Rob Sharpe, meteorologist at Sky News Weather, said locals have just survived a maximum temperature of 33.1 degrees which is up from the long-term average of 31.5 degrees.

Our minimum temperature rose to 24 degrees, also surpassing the average of 23.4 degrees.

It ranks third behind 2017 at 33.1 degrees and 2005 at a hot and sticky 33.2 degrees.

Mr Sharpe said our tropics and humidity have made the weather all the more unbearable, which is not surprising for Cairns locals who are already all too aware.

“33 degrees in Cairns is not like 33 degrees in Adelaide where it’s dry,” Mr Sharpe said, “It’s uncomfortable.”

Koipe Neiman (left) and Gavin Reuben (right) from Highway Constructions work in the tropical heat. Picture: Brian Cassey

Mr Sharpe said, “the last 30 years have seen the hottest temperatures ever recorded.”

“And that’s looking back to 1942.”

More specifically, the last six years have particularly these high numbers, Mr Sharpe said.

In 2016, the maximum annual temperature in Cairns soared to an all time high of 30.2 degrees which makes it the hottest year ever in our local history, he said.

The long-term average is 29.1 degrees.

2021 came close to hitting that record, bringing in an annual maximum temperature of 30 degrees.

Mr Sharpe said, the general underlying trend is that the climate will continue to worsen globally and Cairns will feel that heat harder.

“Over the long-term, the expectation from climate scientists is a rising trend in temperatures,” he said.

Originally published as Hot and humid: Temperature hits record highs in Cairns