CAIRNS sweltered during the first month of winter, with the airport weather station equalling its highest recorded June maximum average temperature of 27.8C.

Since the opening of the Cairns Meteorological Office in 1941, only one other year, 1973, has matched this year’s June maximum average.

Cairns weather forecast | Photo gallery: Cairns' amazing weather

There was also little incentive to reach for the hoodie during the month.

The average minimum temperature equalled the fourth highest on record at 19.7C – 1.9C above the long-term
average of 17.8C.

Statistical trends also offer no ammunition for climate change sceptics.

The mercury has risen above the long-term maximum average of 26C for nine of the past 10 years. Weather bureau duty forecaster Liz Heba said it was "nothing too dramatic" to record a monthly average of two degrees above the long-term average.

"Generally our temperatures for June have been a few degrees above average," Ms Heba said.

"When there’s not much rain around you tend not to get as much cloud and warmer temperatures."

Cairns recorded a provisional rainfall figure of 9mm last month, well below the long-term average of 45.6mm, but higher than the same month last year when just 4.4mm was recorded.

It was a different situation from the south of the city, where steady showers and overcast conditions have slowed down cane harvesting in the Babinda and South Johnstone districts.

The weather station at Babinda Mill recorded a total of 198.5mm for June, which is closer to the long-term average of 208mm.

"The weather has had an impact on our operations," Bundaberg Sugar’s cane supply manager Craig Alman said.

"We’d love some sunshine to bring up the sugar content levels in the Babinda and South Johnstone districts."

The weather bureau is predicting a wet weekend ahead for the Far North, which could be a taste of things to come over the next three months with above average rainfall expected for northeastern Australia.

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