South East Queensland swelters through high humidity

A ‘Cairns-like’ wet season with high humidity and heavy downpours has turned South East Queensland into a hotbed of mould, with many homes and businesses affected.

A “Cairns-like” like wet season with high humidity and heavy downpours has turned South East Queensland into a hotbed of mould.

The Bureau of Meteorology said recent heavy rainfall and high humidity rates in Brisbane were the ideal conditions for mould to thrive.

It comes following the February floods which devastated much of the region, further compounded by weeks of heavy downpours.

Weather bureau senior meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said evening and overnight temperatures in the South East over the weekend hit close to 100 per cent humidity, higher than Cairns current humidity levels of 60 per cent.

Fog hangs heavy over Brisbane obscuring the city from Mt Cootha. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr Hanniffy said a “very high” moisture level created high dew points to spark 90 per cent plus humidity rates throughout the South East over the past week.

“This humidity outbreak is like what you would see in January, February,” Mr Hanniffy said.

“It’s ideal for mould.”

Forecaster Livio Regano said the current conditions were similar to the wet seasons in Far North Queensland.

“Because the rain has been almost never ending, people are naturally closing their houses and windows up,” Mr Regano said.

“It’s the perfect mix for mould. Very tropical, quite warm nights and long continuous periods of very high humidity and little cloud cover.

“It’s not quite as hot as Far North Queensland’s wet season but similar.”

Mr Regano said South East Queensland was in store for “murky” conditions and light showers to persist throughout the week.

“Unfortunately, we’re unlikely to get those warm, sunny May days,” he said.

“It’s just going to be this dodgy, passing showers and a lot of murky clouds.

“Today (Monday) is the closest to sunshine we will see.”

Originally published as South East Queensland swelters through high humidity