Weather in and around Townsville in Dec / Jan

dishlicker · Senior Member

Weather in and around Townsville in Dec / Jan

suengreg · Veteran Member

I have friends in Townsville and lived there for a couple of years. It is the start of the wet season and you could be unlucky and get a cyclone. Someone else may have more knowledge of the weather
Check out Dr Google using Weather forecast December 2021

Have a safe trip

dishlicker · Senior Member

Thanks will do

Possum3 · Guru

C'mon Doug, Where is your advice?

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi dishlicker,
Never say never - TC Joy appeared off Cairns around the Christmas period 20 years ago, a small Cat 1 cyclone started off Bowen on a Christmas Day, a number of years ago.
The cyclone season is from early November to the end of April.

Don't knock the rain - it is our wet season - the main time when we get it! But it's not cold, one can wear a Tshirt & shorts, thongs & get wet but it doesn't take long to dry out! Our temperatures that time of the year range from 25 to 32, 33 degrees (min & maximum). The humidity could range from 70 to 100%. I've seen 100% when it wasn't raining.
The only people who run across the road to dodge rain are "southerners" - because it's cold where they (you?) come from.

Townsville was "hit" last by TC Althea in 1971, yes we've had some close shaves in the period 1998-2000, then the "Tropical Depression" in 2019 that was the cause of the floods when the dam overfilled & the Govt opened the gates!
If you want to see NQ at its best, the wet season (if we get one) is the time. All of the creeks, waterfalls are flowing well.

Recent years' records show that the rain does not start until mid January though. My advice - don't put off your trip because we might get a "blow" - there is plenty of warning time to move out if you have to.

What urks us off is that as we live in a cyclone region, we have to pay very high house insurances even though our houses are built to strong standards but other cities suffer far more damage in storms & pay minimal insurance! I've just got my bill - it is $5,500!!

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hey Possum,
It's no use asking Doug for a response as the first hint of the "humidity" word, he's off with the rest of the nomads back "home" (south of the River Murray, I believe). Thank goodness as we who live there can enjoy swimming in warmer waters ourselves without being crowded out , seeing birds that have not been scared off by visitors who don't understand the need for quietness.

I think I'd prefer the humidity to the horrendous bushfires that have destroyed significant parts of the southern states in the recent past. I don't want another close shave that we had in Malacoota late last year.

Meredith · Senior Member

You could be unlucky and get heavy rain, even unluckier and get a cyclone, but most likely it will just be hot and fairly humid. Personally as long as you have air conditioning and are staying somewhere you can safely swim I'ld go for it. I know Townsville is most popular in mid winter, but for me being too cold to comfortably swim means we prefer to go there when it is warmer, usually more the spring/autumn, but I would have a go at early summer too.

Kebbin · Guru

The wet tropics start at Townsville, the wet season isn't that reliable but it will be hot and sticky with rain how often depends on .............

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Possum3 wrote:
C'mon Doug, Where is your advice?

I am only a part time Townsvillian and lately only a casual Possum, so don't consider myself qualified anymore.

For what it's worth though, It's very humid and too humid for this old Indian chief to be too far north of the Mexican border during summer.

Warren and Pat know me too well smile

I do love Townsville though and miss it but I am staying put until Covid sorts itself out. It's safe where I am in N E VIC.

I still support the Maroons in SOO.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Hey Possum,
It's no use asking Doug for a response as the first hint of the "humidity" word, he's off with the rest of the nomads back "home" (south of the River Murray, I believe). Thank goodness as we who live there can enjoy swimming in warmer waters ourselves without being crowded out , seeing birds that have not been scared off by visitors who don't understand the need for quietness.

I think I'd prefer the humidity to the horrendous bushfires that have destroyed significant parts of the southern states in the recent past. I don't want another close shave that we had in Malacoota late last year.

"Thank goodness" Gee, thanks mate cry smile

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi Kebbin,
You're a little out in your geography - Mackay & Cairns are in the Wet Tropics - the humidity there takes your breath away at times; Townsville, Rockhampton are in the Dry Tropics.

Townsville's average rainfall is around 1200mm (often don't get anywhere near it), Cairns gets more but Babinda & Tully get FAR more!

Sorry Doug, I thought I'd save you some typing - currently we're in Toowoomba (FREEZING). Our movements in the next couple of weeks depend on the dreaded lurgy! Emma & partner drove to Canberra last night. They are hoping to come to Toowoomba, then to Stradbroke Island but jumpy Premiers may put an end to that.

Look on the Townsville area in another way dishlicker - you don't need to carry many clothes with you & you basically know what the weather will be like in three weeks time!

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

I used to go to Townsville for work. I have spent Christmas there but never again. It's too hot and humid in comparison to the south. I believe winter is the best time to visit Townsville.

We were going to go to Townsville at the end of these school holidays but the NSW late lockdown and the spread of the Delta version of SARS-CoV2 may put a halt to that.