THIS INFORMATION IS FOR REFERENCE USE ONLY – IT MAY NOT BE UP TO DATE AND MUST NOT BE USED FOR FLIGHT PLANNING PURPOSES!
There are automatic weather stations at Burketown 07 3564 3707, Cairns 07 3564 3708, Century Mine 07 3564 3709 and Mornington Island 07 3564 3728. You can call these numbers get an AWS computerised voice summary of the weather.
For detailed information for your flight planning needs please head to the Airservices NAIPS log in.
The Bureau of Meteorology has a Graphical Area Forecast here and Mornington Island weather radar here
Jetstream
It is worthwhile look at the above synoptic chart with the jet stream chart below. When the jet stream splits or bends significantly it is referred to as an “upper level disturbance” and can cause severe weather below it.
More information about how the Jet Stream influences our weather can be found at the California Regional Weather Server, sponsored by the Department of Earth & Climate Sciences at San Francisco State University. The California Regional Weather Server provides more detail, including a general description of jet stream analysis and forecast maps.
Aerological Diagrams
The BOM Aerological Diagrams are here (AKA Skew T-Log P or Thermodynamic diagram). The ones from Mount Isa and Townsville can give a good indication of the heights at which clouds will form in our region. Here is a PDF explanation of how to intepret these diagrams courtesy of the Australian Bureau of Meterology.