Burst of showers pushes Cairns Airport over monthly rainfall average
Bushfires, smoke haze and dry yards, it's fair to say a lot of TNQ locals were happy to see the return of grey skies and some showers to the region.
But the joy will be short lived with sunshine and mostly blue skies forecast to return in coming days.
About 48mm was recorded at Cairns Airport overnight on Monday, with totals of up to 50mm in some coastal areas between Cairns and Cardwell.
While it has been a dry start to the month for the bureau's official weather station at Cairns Airport, duty forecaster Jim Richardson said after the recent showers the city is above its average total September rainfall total of 33mm.
"The showers will continue today but will clear over night with a bit of cloud and maybe a sprinkle or two on Wednesday," he said.
"By Thursday it will be mostly fine again."
A combination of favourable conditions, including moisture in the upper and lower atmosphere, was behind the welcome burst of showers.
Just 1.4mm fell in Cairns in August, despite the average being 26.4mm.
