Wet conditions could dampen Easter plans in far north Queensland

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The Easter Bunny will be scouting for covert places to hide eggs this year, with showers forecast across much of far north Queensland this long weekend.

There is a high chance of rain along the coast on Easter Friday and Easter Monday, with somewhat drier conditions expected on Saturday and Sunday.

However, Shane Kennedy of the Bureau of Meteorology says the rainfall totals are unlikely to completely ruin camping trips.

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“The heaviest falls will be on the Cassowary Coast and the Daintree Coast,” he said Tropical now.

Up to 90 millimeters could fall in the Innisfail area between Friday and Monday, with up to 50 millimeters expected on Monday alone.

The Cairns coast can expect around 60 millimeters over the four days.

Strong southeasterly winds could also result in sea wind warnings from mid-week, mainly north of Cooktown but possibly also off Cairns.

There’s better news if you head west.

It is expected to be overcast with a chance of rain of only 10 to 30 percent and totals in the single digits.

“Temperatures are going to be pretty mild with this cloud cover,” Kennedy said.

“Up on the Tablelands it’s going to be in the high 20’s and the nights are also getting milder in the low 20’s.”

The Bureau of Meteorology is also keeping an eye on a possible tropical depression in the Gulf of Carpentaria that could hit western Cape York later this week with storms and isolated falls over 50 millimeters.

Meanwhile, health officials are warning that this week’s wet conditions are perfect for mozzies to breed.

The Director of Tropical Public Health Services Cairns, Dr. Richard Gair, reminds people going outdoors to make sure they are protected from bites.

“Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, but they are also vectors of harmful diseases like Ross River fever and Barmah forest virus,” he said.

“Barmah Forest virus and Ross River fever are both transmitted by the mosquito species Aedes vigilax, which we are now seeing in large numbers across Cairns.”

He recommends wearing light-colored clothing with long sleeves and using mosquito repellent containing DEET or Picaridin.

The Cairns and Hinterland HHS region has been dengue-free since 2018 due to the success of the World Mosquito Program.