RAIN ON ITS WAY

BUT LIMIT WATER USE: P3

A MAJOR weather event is being forecast for parts of the Far North with daily rainfall totals of more than 100mm and storms predicted to hit the region.

Following on from the driest December in close to 70 years, wet season downpours are expected to hit the Tablelands and Gulf areas today.

Coastal areas including Cairns and the Cassowary Coast will get the bulk of their rain later in the week on the back of a south-easterly change forecast to come through on Friday.

It will be the first significant rain in the region for more than a month.

This is despite the Bureau of Meteorology announcing the tropical Pacific had reached La Nina levels in early December, which tends to be accompanied by greater rainfall.

Duty forecaster Andrew Bufalino said there would be widespread showers across the Tablelands and Gulf today, extending to the coastal ranges.

He said rainfall might exceed 100mm in areas including Georgetown, Normanton and parts of the Tablelands around the Ravenshoe area.

“Tomorrow and Thursday will be the best time for that much-needed rain,” he said.

“Coastal areas are less likely to see action (initially).”

Mr Bufalino said the chance of rain and even storm activity in Cairns was far greater at the end of the week, particularly with the south-easterly change coming through.

“(This will impact) all of the tropics and there will be moderate falls of between 50mm-100mm,” he said.

Hot and humid temperatures are expected to continue today despite the forecast rain.

The mercury reached 33.4C in Cairns yesterday.

Bureau of Meteorology figures showed 2017 was one of the drier years in recent times with a total of 1688.6mm.

While 282mm wetter than 2016, it was far lower than 2011 when 2623.2mm fell within 12 months.

The wettest month last year was February, when 483.8mm fell, while the driest was August, when just 1.4mm was recorded.