Weekly report for 02/09/07 –09/09/07

Rainfall – The weekend has been average weather, with some rain periods and fairly strong winds all week. Currently it is sunny but windy. The showers are forecast to continue, and while winds will moderate on Tuesday, they freshen again on Wednesday.

NO RAIN = NO RAINFOREST!

NORTH TROPICAL COAST AND TABLELANDS DISTRICT
Isolated showers about the coast. Morning showers southern Tablelands. Fine inland. Moderate southeast winds.
Outlook for Tuesday ... Isolated showers about the coast becoming scattered overnight with patchy rain areas.
Outlook for Wednesday ... Scattered showers about the coast and ranges,isolated inland. Patchy rain areas. Fresh southeast winds.
North Tropical Waters, Cooktown to Cardwell:
Monday until midnight: SE winds 15/20 knots. Seas to 1.7 metres outside the reef, 1.2 metres inside the reef. Isolated showers.
Tuesday: SE winds 10/15 knots reaching 15/20 knots over far northern waters. Seas 1.3 to 1.7 metres outside the reef, 1 to 1.2 metres inside the reef. Isolated showers.
Wednesday: SE winds 15/20 knots, freshening to 20/25 knots.
Thursday: SE winds 20/25 knots.

NOTE THAT THIS WEATHER APPLIES TO ALL AREAS AROUND CAIRNS NOT JUST US!!!

Roads – the road to Cape Trib is open with no flooding, there are minor delays at Thompson Creek just north of Coconut Beach due to roadworks. There is single lane section there with a give way sign for northbound traffic. The work here is nearly finished and will mean that Thompson Creek rarely floods, even in heavy rain.Drivers need to be aware of cassowaries with many crossing the road at present, some males with chicks as well as increased snake activity on the road at night. Please don’t run snakes over they are just as biologically important as Cassowaries!

The Bloomfield Track is open to 4WDs only and has been half graded. Graded sections are very slippery after rain and there have been some accidents attributed to high speed on wet roads. Drivers need to drive to the conditions to avoid accidents. We recommend the use of low gear (low range if available on steep descents) The creek crossings are less than knee deep. Trailers should not be taken on the road at present.

Please slow down around road crews. Last week a rented 4WD rolled after passing road crews at high speed. The road workers were less that impressed and called Police using one of out vehicle’s Satellite phones. Roadworkers usually wet the road surface to reduce dust and this can make it slippery, that’s one of the reasons speed limits are reduced where they are.

Tides – Early in the week the tides are lowish all day with highs late in the afternoon. The tides tend toward highs in the early morning/late evening from Thursday.

The area is a bit quieter at present but tours and accommodation still needs to be pre – booked to avoid disappointment. There are virtually no queues at the Ferry during peak times.

Lawrence Mason

Manager
Mason's Tours Cape Tribulation
CMA 4
Cape Tribulation
Qld 4873
Phone 40980070 Int 61 7 40980070
Fax 40980026 Int 61 7 40980026
Mobile/Cell 0427012772
www.masonstours.com.au

Weather, tides, road conditions 30/7 to 5/8/

Rainfall
The weekend has been great weather, but unfortunately on Sunday the wind picked up just as forecast. It is currently, fine, cool and blowing 25knots! The forecast is for this to continue with some decrease to wind after Tuesday and increased likelihood of showers later in the week

NORTH TROPICAL COAST AND TABLELANDS DISTRICT
Fine and sunny day. Moderate to fresh SE winds.
Outlook for Tuesday ... Fine morning with isolated coastal showers developing later. Isolated morning frosts possible on the Tablelands.
Outlook for Wednesday ... Isolated coastal showers, mostly fine inland.

Unfortunately there is a Wind Warning

Coastal Waters Wind Warning For Torres Strait to Cairns.Issued at 10:55 am EST on Monday 6 August 2007

Synoptic Situation
A large high over South Australia is moving steadily eastwards and will reach the northern Tasman Sea early Wednesday.

Strong Wind Warning Torres Strait to Cairns
Expect SE winds at 25/30 knots. These winds are expected to continue until late Tuesday. Seas will reach 3 metres outside the reef on an increasing SE swell. Seas will reach 1.7 metres inside the reef.
Please be aware wind gusts can be a further 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum waves may be up to twice the height.

Roads
The road to Cape Trib is open with no flooding, there are minor delays at Thompson Creek just north of Coconut Beach due to roadworks. There is single lane section there with a give way sign for northbound traffic. Drivers need to be aware of cassowaries with many crossing the road at present, some males with chicks.

The Bloomfield Track is open to 4WDs only and has been half graded. Graded sections can be very slippery after rain. The creek crossings are less than knee deep and Emmagen Creek is very loose and requires 4WD. The dust is bad in places and we recommend the use of lights. Drivers need to drive to the conditions with one accident already this week, probably due to traveling too fast on a recently graded road.

Tides
Until Saturday the tides are low around midday, and high early morning and evening. On Saturday and Sunday the tides are low early afternoon and high in the morning and later evening

Traffic
The area is very busy at present and tours and accommodation needs to be pre – booked to avoid disappointment. There are small queues at the Ferry during peak times

Cheers

Lawrence Mason, Manager, Mason's Tours Cape Tribulation
CMA 4, Cape Tribulation, Qld 4873
Phone 40980070 Int 61 7 40980070 Fax 40980026 Int 61 7 40980026
Mobile/Cell 0427012772
http://www.masonstours.com.au