Rain-shadow effect inspires Mareeba's claim to 300 sunny days a year

Australia Broadcast Center

10 hours ago

Far North Queensland may be renowned for its rainforests, monsoons and cyclones, but nestled in heart of the wet tropics one town claims to be a literal ray of sunshine.
Proudly boasting 300 sunny days a year, Mareeba, near the Atherton Tablelands on the range west of Cairns, is just 180 kilometres north of Australia's wettest town, Tully.
But while Mareeba is known for its clear days, whether or not the marketing matches the weather records is more cloudy.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Livio Regano said Mareeba did have a drier climate compared to other parts of the region, due to a "rain-shadow" effect.
"It just means that if you're behind a big range and the eastern side catches the moisture, most of the rain falls on that side and by the time the air comes over the other side, it's already dried out a bit," Mr Regano said.
"The moisture has been rung out on the eastern side like a wet sponge getting squeezed and there's nothing left in it.
"On the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, you're in a rain shadow, and that includes most of the Atherton Tablelands."
While it makes for a pleasant climate, Mr Regano said the "300 days of sun" claim was harder to substantiate.
To accurately measure sunshine statistics, a sunshine recorder is needed.
Mareeba does not have one.
But there is a weather station at the airport, which has recorded an average 86 clear days, and 95 cloudy days per year.
"That nowhere near adds up to 300 sunny days a year, unless your definition of sunshine is that the sun pokes through the cloud, at least for one minute every day," Mr Regano said.
When comparing the days of sun in Mareeba to other towns and cities in different parts of Australia, it doesn't quite make the leaderboard.
"It's not comparable with what they have, for example, in the Burdekin and around Townsville — you know the Townsville Dome as we all call it," he said.
Gaining traction in the 1990s, the tagline "300 sunny days a year" became popular as the once-thriving tobacco industry declined, and Mareeba sought a fresh identity.
Rochelle Harding from the Mareeba Shire Council, which erected a sign with the slogan, said the sunny weather had proven to be one of the town's greatest assets, especially for tourism.
"It's an ideal location for recreational flyers with access to the Mareeba Airport and for hot air ballooning," she said.
"Mountain bikers, hikers and campers benefit from the reliable weather, with easier access to outback stations and trails.
"Mareeba's climate also attracts grey nomads, who enjoy the warm, dry conditions while camping and exploring the region at their leisure."
The official records are one thing, but for Peter Howe from Rock Ridge Farming, the proof is in the avocados and bananas he grows in both Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands.
He said although his blocks were relatively close in proximity, he noticed the difference in production and climate.
"We've got we got ladyfingers [bananas] down at Mareeba and in Atherton, and there's a about a four-week delay on the ones in Atherton coming in versus Mareeba," he said.
Mr Howe said picking bananas was also more efficient in sunny conditions, and bigger bunches were produced.
"You just need sunshine to make everything grow and perform," he said.