Hot, humid weather marks start of Cairns wet season build-up: BOM
The Far North is experiencing another hot and steamy day, with temperatures soaring to nearly 40C in some parts of the region thanks to a mini heatwave.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE: The Far North is experiencing another hot and steamy day, with temperatures soaring to nearly 40C in some parts of the region thanks to a mini heatwave.
Laura hit a top of 39.1C just before 2.30pm while Coen reached 38.3C and Weipa 36.5C.
Further south, Mareeba hit 35.1C at 1pm Tuesday while Low Isles reached 33.6C just before 12.30pm.
In Cairns, the mercury reached 31.9C at the airport and 31.4C at the racecourse.
MONDAY: A mini Far North heatwave is producing above-average temperatures and increased coastal humidity has weather experts flagging the change as a wet season precursor.
In Mareeba on Sunday the mercury skyrocketed to 36.5C, which is almost six degrees above the October average.
It soared even higher on Monday, hitting 36.9C just before 2pm.
A coastal sea breeze kept Cairns temperatures a little milder on Monday, with the mercury hitting 31C just after 12.30pm, but a top of 33C is expected on Tuesday.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Felim Hanniffy said Far Northerners would need to get used to the steamy weather.
“Temps are going to remain on the warm side for the next week,” he said.
“In Cairns we are looking around the low 30s and inland high 30s.
“Pretty warm conditions will continue, it’s going to be really quite humid as we head into to a pre-wet season build-up.”
#QLDweather: Blue sky and warmth for most of the state today. Temperatures expected to be well above average in the east. Slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm for the Gulf, western Peninsula, Wide Bay and Burnett and Capricornia districts. https://t.co/jeIFSFJSkL pic.twitter.com/sBzhwJfJql
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) October 3, 2021
Mr Hanniffy said a record Cairns temperature of 36C recorded on October 24, 2002, was unlikely to be broken but temperatures two to three degrees above average were expected for the rest of the week.
The BOM forecaster said increasing relative humidity and a dew point sitting at 23.1 at the Cairns Airport on Monday was making for unseasonably sticky conditions.
The “apparent temperature” at the airport at 12.30pm was 33.6C, despite the official temperature sitting at 29.7C.
A little further north at Low Isles, the official temperature at 12pm was 32.6C but it felt like 35.3C, according to BOM data.
“Mid next week we may see a bit more cloud coming across but it’s a long way away and very little in the way of showers is forecast,” Mr Hanniffy said.
But there is the slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm for the Gulf and Western Cape York Peninsula areas.
“This week is pretty stable (in Cairns and) we have pretty benign conditions, but there’s the potential of morning fog,” he said.
“And the dew point will remain in the low 20s, so it will remain on the sticky side.”
According to the BOM an early rainfall onset for the 2021–22 season is likely across most of Northern Australia.
Most of Queensland including Cairns has a greater than 70 per cent chance of an early rainfall onset.
The Bureau is expected to release a 2021–22 Coral Sea cyclone outlook later this month.
Originally published as Hot, humid weather marks start of Cairns wet season build-up: BOM
School issues alert after man chases, lures students
A school in Far North Queensland is on high alert following reports a man chased students and attempting to lure them into his car.
‘Grabbed his dogs and ran’: Airbnb guest lucky to escape house fire
A Cairns Airbnb guest was lucky to escape a blaze with his two dogs unscathed after a home was completely gutted by fire, believed be caused by a phone charger. Watch the video.