Coldest day since 1953
CAIRNS experienced the coldest March morning on record since 1953 today.
The mercury dropped to 17.7C at 5.50am, more than 5C below the March average and 0.4C above the 1953 record.
But it was Mareeba that won the region`s most chilling prize dropping to 15C, also more than 5C below its average, while South Johnstone dropped to 18C and Innisfail 18.3C.
According to Cairns weather bureau duty forceaster Amber Young, all overnight temperatures in the north tropical coast were between 2C and 5C below their March average and, out west, temperatures were 6-9C below average.
"We are transitioning into autumn. Things normally cool down about this time but not usually by this much" Ms Young said.
The cooler weather is expected to continue until the weekend, when movement of a high pressure system down south could bring wind and rain.
March rainfall was inkeeping with the long-range forecast, which predicted only a 35 per cent chance of of average rainfall for the region.
The Cairns Airport received 149.2mm of rain for March, a month that has a 424.8mm average.
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