Far North records hottest, wettest spring as region braces for monsoon
Far North Queensland has recorded its hottest and wettest spring since 2017 as meteorologists warn approaching monsoon activity could bring weekend thunderstorms.
The Far North has experienced its hottest and wettest spring in eight years as meteorologists warn monsoon activity could ramp up in coming weeks.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued its long-range forecast for the 2025 summer season which shows above average temperatures and above average rainfall is set to continue.
Senior meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said tropical activity near the Solomon Islands was signalling an approaching monsoon.
“There’s some potential for some tropical lows to form in the coming week; one system out near the Solomons which is not expected to impact Queensland directly, is becoming increasingly more active, and is a sign of the impending monsoon,” Mr Hanniffy said.
“Historically for North Queensland, during the latter part of December and into January, we start to see the official onset but last year it was very late,” he said.
While there was no exact time frame for the onset of monsoon season, Mr Hanniffy said it was common to experience a heat build up to draw the monsoon through, and expected tropical lows to shift into the southern hemisphere and develop to the north of Australia.
“Last year was the latest on record, with the monsoon declared in Darwin in early February, but for Queensland it’s always been a little bit earlier, and we saw a monsoon burst in December last year which brought heavy rainfall.”
While the weather continues to warm up, Mr Hanniffy said Mareeba recorded its warmest spring for 26 years,.
“Mareeba airport set its all time mean November temperature record that’s averaged temperatures across both day and overnight minimums and maximums... but as a whole, spring was very warm.”
Meanwhile the north tropical coast recorded its hottest and wettest spring in eight years.
“In terms of rainfall for September to November, Cairns had its wettest September on record,” he said.
“Overall the spring months ended up being the wettest for Cairns since 2017 thanks to the wet September, but I think the factor during those months was well above average heat.”
Mr Hanniffy said higher than average temperatures could be expected for the rest of the week with a high of 32C expected for Cairns and up to 35C for Mareeba with possible thunderstorms.
“It’s going to be mostly trade flow showers more than anything, then possibility of thunderstorms heading into the weekend as heat starts to build and the weather system moving in the latter part of the weekend,” he said.
“In the early weekend there’s a greater chance of storms on north tropical coast.”
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Originally published as Far North records hottest, wettest spring as region braces for monsoon
