Suzyque

We are in Sydney and were planning on going to Cairns this Sat. Jan. 17. Now we are watching the news and they are experiencing storms and flooding. Is there a chance it will be cleared up and we should go or change our plans? Can anyone help?

pat_woolford

Its cleared up now and I'm looking out my window near Cairns at bright sunshine and mostly blue sky. Even got the washing on the line dry today. Heavy rains have gone south and affecting Innisfail and Townsville.

Barron Falls near Kuranda is spectacular with torrents of water, today Kuranda Train is not running because of damage to line from yesterday's deluge but they say it should be operating from tomorrow. Skyrail not affected at all.

Forecast for Sat. is showing possible thunderstorm which is nothing to worry about, here's a link to local forecast:

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/qld/nt...bleland/cairns

Bushranger

This time of year you have to be prepared for some changes though as forecastes even four days out can go awry.

The rain bringing low depression had been hanging around a few days in the Gulf well NW of Cairns before becoming just a Class1 Cyclone and then a rain depression again.

In heading up there on 17th and staying a few days you may get fine weather if humid and just scattered thunderstorms but then they may develop into something else!
Luck of the draw this time of year.

amsimon

I am in Cairns now and was here for the terrible rain storms (was in Port Douglas for those).
Yesterday and today the weather has been perfect in Carins. Today we went to Kuranda (the train and skyrail are both running!) and the Barron Falls were outrageous!!!

I am not sure of the forecast for the upcoming days and have also heard that the forecasts are definitely not always accurate!

What do you have your heart set on doing while in Cairns?
I have heard that GBR tours have not been operating the past few days-- not sure if they started up again today though!

garryoday

I live in Cairns and just heard on the radio that we can expect another 300ml of rain on the weekend. Make your own decision, but be prepared for a deluge. By the way 300ml equals 12 inches of rain.

Saltuarius

With the collapse of the monsoon trough I would think that 300mm is most unlikely. From the BOM forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Looks like most of the rain will be orographic and south of Cairns.
"NORTH TROPICAL COAST AND TABLELANDS DISTRICT
Scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms, tending scattered south of Cairns.
Some moderate falls likely. Light to moderate SE to NE winds.
Outlook for Sunday ... Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Some moderate
falls likely.
Outlook for Monday ... Scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms tending
scattered north of Cairns. Some moderate falls possible.

pat_woolford

I live in Cairns too and did not hear that radio report either on Radio National or 4CA. Neither was a 300m deluge for weekend mentioned on either Channel 7 local news or ABC. Just wondering where you heard it, garry?

pat_woolford

Umm, meant to type 300mm, not 300 metres.

Saltuarius

Pat,
Garry posted 300ml. Being a volume and not a depth that would just about account for the dew on my wong bok this morning. Garry, don't stress, an easy typo or confusion of terms to make.

Beautiful day up here, hope it is for you down in the lowlands also and that Suzyque was not put off.

pat_woolford

Thanks Saltuarius, anyway no deluge this weekend and sunny down here too, so also hope Suzyque wasn't scared away.

Still good reef conditions with about 10-15knots, and the whole area could hardly look greener. I was at Atherton a few weeks ago, the view from Halloran's Hill, was just green, green and more green.