But the Cairns radar’s down time, originally scheduled for eight-nine weeks, has been twice extended and now, a further two to three weeks has been added.

With the unusual more frequent rain we’ve been experiencing for this time of year, it has been especially disappointing for some, not being able to watch the rain cloud patterns on the map.

For a very short time on July 26, there was a major buzz on social media when numerous users posted screenshots of the radar’s apparent return to service. 

But the pictures soon disappeared again from the BoM page to be replaced by an updated information board, which now says the radar’s estimated restoration time is on August 18 at 5.10pm.

Newsport has not been able to confirm whether the screenshots were real time from the day, or ‘file’ pictures from a screen capture in the past.

“We anticipated that the radar upgrade would take approximately eight weeks to complete,” a BoM spokesperson told Newsport. “Due to unforeseen delays we now expect the radar to be offline for a further two weeks.”

Reactions to the extended delays have been many and varied. Weather watchers, including this reporter, have no doubt missed their local radar, which mainly detects fairly accurately where rain clouds are and the extent of their rainfall, in close to real time.  

“Another 2 weeks delay ..omg !!!...it would be REALLY nice to know what is happening out there, so we can plan the day,” one Facebook user posted.

When another wrote, “we don’t need one we gone this long without one,” the response was, “speak for yourself ..some of us have to plan our jobs around what the weather is doing.” 

“l don't mind, but we can't even plan a walk, mowing the lawn or go down to the beach..it's the not knowing.”

There were some humorous takes: “The radar goes out, & the weather thinks it can do anything it wants.”

The BoM said it “will notify customers, stakeholders and community when the upgraded radar is returned to service, which we estimate will be the week of 14 August 2023.”

It added: “Radars form only one part of the Bureau's observing network.  Forecasts and warnings for all regions are based on a combination of many different observing systems including satellites, automatic weather stations, radars, rain gauges and hydrological monitoring stations.”

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UPDATE 11/8, 12.22pm

The Cairns radar -- which covers up to a 300 km radius - was back in operation as of late Thursday.

The BoM had said on its website that the radar would not be back on until August 18, but the much-awaited return of the crucial weather watching resource has occurred just over a week ahead of schedule.