Welcome rain, unhappy dogs, as first storms arrive

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Many Far North Queensland communities got their first storms of the season on Thursday afternoon and evening.

In Cairns, distant thunder began to rumble midway through the afternoon, although it was close to midnight before the real action started.

Rain, lightning, and thunder lasted for about an hour, quite a spectacle for those awake to see it.

But for dogs who are afraid of thunder, it was time once again to head for those storm season hiding places under beds, behind furniture, or in the pantry.

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Storms developed west of the Tablelands during the day, moving east with a trough line, and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a severe storm warning for parts of the Gulf Country.

Some places got useful rain, while others missed out. Tinaroo Dam recorded 57 millimetres in 30 minutes just after midnight.

At Cairns airport, about 30 millimetres of rain fell in 30 minutes around midnight, while Cannon Park racecourse got a quick 28 millimetres around the same time.

Rain and storms were reported across a wide area, including Lakeland, Mossman, Mount Molloy, Dimbulah, Atherton, and Ravenshoe.

By early Friday morning, the storms had pushed out over the Coral Sea.

The BoM says scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible on Friday along the east coast south of Cooktown. In Cairns, there’s a very high chance of showers from late morning.

Thunderstorms are possible at any time in the Far North, but are much more likely from October onwards, when conditions aid their development.

The BoM long-range forecast  says above average rainfall is likely through till December, and there’s a 74 per cent chance of an above average cyclone season, which runs from November to April.