Australia Weather News

Far north Queensland is being drenched with torrential rain, smashing the record for the wettest May day in Cooktown and Weipa, and delivering the wettest May day in Cairns in 96 years.

A deep tropical air mass formed over the Gulf of Carpentaria on Friday and extended to the coastal areas on Saturday.

It is not expected to budge until early Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology said, with minor to moderate flood warnings issued for a handful of catchments.

The Indigenous community of Hopevale, about four hours north of Cairns, had 328 millimetres in the 24 hours to 9:00am on Sunday.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Michelle Berry there was no historic data for the area, but said it would likely be a record.

In Cooktown, just south of Hopevale, storms were generated from the trough, pummelling the town with 211mm in 24 hours.

Also on Cape York, Weipa had 67.6mm, the heaviest May day on record.

Cairns had more rain in 24 hours than their monthly average of 90mm.

It recorded 118mm, a level usually seen during the monsoon season.

"It is the heaviest rain since January, which recorded the same amount in a day," Ms Berry said.

The rain is expected to continue until Monday morning.

" I cannot rule out further heavy falls, possibly over the northern interior, around and north of Georgetown," Ms Berry said.

"They haven't had much rain over those western areas."

The BoM has issued a flood watch for catchments between Normanton and Coen, including the Gilbert and Mitchell Rivers.

The same warning was issued for catchments between Ingham and Cape Flattery, including the Herbert, Murray, Tully, Johnstone, Mulgrave-Russell, Barron, Mossman, Daintree, Endeavour and Jeannie Rivers.