Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Severe Weather Warning
for Heavy Rainfall
for parts of North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and Herbert and Lower Burdekin Forecast Districts.
Issued at 10:19 pm Wednesday, 31 December 2025.
Heavy rainfall is possible about the northeast coast tonight and into Thursday.
Weather Situation
A coastal trough over the northeast coast is combining with a very humid airmass to bring a risk of heavy rainfall.
HEAVY RAINFALL for the following areas:
North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and Herbert and Lower Burdekin
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast about the coast and adjacent inland areas from about Innisfail to Alva Beach. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 180 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 250 mm possible.
A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if very dangerous thunderstorms with intense rainfall are detected.
A separate Severe Weather Warning is current for northwestern Queensland. Flood Watches and Flood Warnings are current for Northern Queensland. Please refer to https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts for more information.
Locations which may be affected include Townsville, Palm Island, Ingham, Cardwell, Tully, Rollingstone, Innisfail, Giru, Lucinda and Abergowrie.
Emergency services advise people to:
* Park your car undercover away from trees.
* Close doors and windows.
* Keep asthma medications close by. Storms and wind can trigger asthma attacks.
* Charge mobile phones and power banks in case the power goes out.
* Put your pets somewhere safe and make sure they can be identified in case they get lost.
* Do not drive now unless you have to because conditions are dangerous.
* Tell friends, family and neighbours in the area.
* Go inside a strong building now. Stay inside until the storm has passed.
The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 5:00 am AEST Thursday.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and emergency services would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.
Forecast
Cairns (16.9254°S, 145.7752°E, 3m AMSL) set as my default location ›
-
Seven day forecast
Today: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely from the late morning. A thunderstorm likely. Heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding possible in the S. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to the low to mid 20s with daytime temperatures reaching 27 to 33.
Forecast for Cairns (16.9254°S, 145.7752°E, 3m AMSL) Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Summary
Minimum 25° 24° 25° 24° 24° 24° 24° Maximum 32° 31° 30° 30° 30° 31° 30° Chance of rain 70% 80% 80% 80% 80% 70% 80% Likely amount 10-20mm 20-40mm 40-80mm 40-80mm 5-10mm 1-5mm 10-20mm UV index Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Fire Danger Rating No Rating No Rating No Rating No Rating - - - Frost risk Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm Wind speed 8
(km/h)15
(km/h)8
(km/h)15
(km/h)11
(km/h)16
(km/h)14
(km/h)18
(km/h)17
(km/h)22
(km/h)19
(km/h)23
(km/h)20
(km/h)26
(km/h)Wind direction ENE ENE ESE ENE SE E ESE E SE SE SSE SE SSE SSE Relative humidity 80% 76% 79% 77% 86% 81% 85% 82% 83% 74% 77% 70% 78% 73% Dew point 25°C 26°C 25°C 25°C 25°C 25°C 25°C 26°C 25°C 24°C 24°C 24°C 24°C 24°C -
Warnings
- Severe Weather Warning (Heavy Rainfall) for parts of North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and Herbert and Lower Burdekin
- Severe Weather Warning (Heavy Rainfall) for parts of North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and Herbert and Lower Burdekin
- Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for Cairns and Townsville coasts
- Cancelled Severe Thunderstorm Warning for North Tropical Coast & Tablelands, Herbert & Lower Burdekin, Wide Bay & Burnett & Southeast Coast
- Cancelled Severe Thunderstorm Warning for North Tropical Coast & Tablelands, Herbert & Lower Burdekin, Wide Bay & Burnett & Southeast Coast
- Minor Flood Warning For The Mulgrave River And Flood Warning For The Russell River
- Minor Flood Warning For The Tully River And Initial Minor Flood Warning For The Murray River
-
Sunrise and sunset times
Sunrise / Sunset for Cairns (16.9254°S, 145.7752°E, 3m AMSL) First light Sunrise Sunset Last light Moon rise Moon set Moon phase Full moon Last quarter New moon First quarter 5:23am EST 5:47am EST 6:54pm EST 7:18pm EST 4:45pm EST 2:59am EST
Waxing gibbous
Full moon Jan 03 Last quarter Jan 11 New moon Jan 19 First quarter Jan 26 -
Temperature for next 5 days
-
Rain for next 5 days