LETTER TO EDITOR: New weather radar crucial for Douglas Shire

WEATHER RADAR

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Another Newsport reader believes attaining a proper automated land based BOM weather radar will help deliver more accurate weather information to our region. Picture: Newsport

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the recent Newsport story about the push for our Shire to gain an automated weather radar based in either Port or Mossman.

Just to supply some further hard data regarding the matter.

We live on the ridge connecting to Mt. Somerset in Miallo and we have had an operating automatic weather station up and running since August.

The observed rainfall at our place can be 3-4 times higher than the low Isles (BOM weather readings), but can also be zero when the Low Isles (BOM radar) records 10-15mm, with everything in between.

There is almost no correlation between weather in Miallo and the Low Isles. If one looks at the radar movies (including the BOM app) one can see why.  

The air masses pass freely over Low Isles but inland strikes the mountains and changes all aspects of weather (direction, intensity, rainfall, insolation).

So, the lack of similarity is not surprising at all! Given the growth at Port Douglas and Mossman it is strange that there is no reliable weather prediction for these areas.

It is even more ludicrous for the Daintree; even Cape Tribulation comes up with the Low Isles for weather.

Moreover, the lack of reliable weather for the coastal strip means that it is bad for tourists, but also bad for successful agriculture in the same area.

We definitely need a station which records relevant weather for people and farms on the land.

Regards,

Newsport reader and passionate weather enthusiast 

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