Scent of a new season in the air
Rainy start points to busy cyclone season
GOODBYE winter, hello spring. The tropical north endured below average rainfall and hotter than normal temperatures during winter with weather boffins predicting a wet change for the new season, possibly leading to more cyclones. The first day of spring has put a smile on the face of Botanic Republic owner Melanie Constable, who is expecting an explosion of colour in stocks including tulips, lilacs and gold flowers.
CAIRNS will welcome a rainy spring on Tuesday to counterbalance the hot, dry 2020 winter.
But the good news may not last as a busy cyclone season looms.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s spring outlook for 2020 has predicted a high likelihood of above-average rainfall across Australia in the coming season and the tropical north is no exception.
Wet weather across the Far North will be heavily influenced by a La Nina event, which has a 70 per cent chance of forming.
Bureau forecaster Kimba Wong said the La Nina outlook, which was triple the normal likelihood, would mean a higher possibility of cyclones during cyclone season.
“There’s a chance that we could see more than the average number of cyclones this season,” she said.
“Cyclone season normally goes from around November 1 to April 30, but of course you can get a cyclone any time of the year.”
The spring outlook said daytime temperatures would likely be warmer than average in northern Australia and overnight temperatures would be above average everywhere but southwest Western Australia.
Ms Wong said Cairns likely wouldn’t start to notice the changes until the beginning of October.
“In terms of the seasonal temperature outlook, it’s looking like Cairns and the tropical region can see average or slightly above daytime temperatures in September, with a higher chance of exceeding the mean later on,” she said.
“There’s an 80 per cent chance of exceeding the median overnight temperatures, so expect warmer nights ahead.”
Residents are expected to welcome the influx of rainfall brought on by spring.
Cairns florist Melanie Constable of Botanic Republic said they could expect lots of beautiful greenery coming up in Cairns and colourful flowers blooming.
“With spring there should be some beautiful lilacs, tulips and gold flowers coming up from down south,” she said.