Australia Weather News

Continuing the trend of a wetter-than-average start to the month, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is forecasting another day of showers for much of south-east Queensland.

There is also the chance of thunderstorms between the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay, as well as scattered showers in the state's interior.

In the 24 hours to 9am Wednesday, Coolangatta had received 108 millimetres, more than three quarters of its monthly May rainfall average.

Caloundra Airport totalled 201mm in the same period, more than one and a half times its May average.

In that 24-hour period, falls were scattered across the state's north.

Cairns Airport recorded 116mm, which was 120 per cent of its average for the month.

But it was a different story at Townsville Airport, which only received 3mm — just a 10th of the city's rainfall average for May.

BOM senior meteorologist Steve Hadley said the south-east's prolonged patchy showers were caused by a large high-pressure system off the southern New South Wales coast.

He said it was blasting onshore winds towards south-east Queensland and creating lots of moisture.

"It's keeping the showers piling in, especially those more exposed parts which capture the rainfall," Mr Hadley said.

The "incessant rain" has frustrated south-east Queensland's building industry, according to Master Builders Queensland chief executive Paul Bidwell.

He said when it rained, builders had to stop work to ensure worker safety and the integrity of buildings under construction.

"You can't be pouring concrete when it's raining, it's a stop-start process until you have a roof on," Mr Bidwell said.

He said the disappointing weather had squeezed an industry that was already under pressure from workforce shortages and rising construction costs.

"It really has a big impact on the industry," Mr Bidwell said.

No rain, no play

Meanwhile, the downfalls have also taken a toll on sporting and recreation groups.

Paul Hoysted manages the Gold Coast Seniors Tennis Club and said sporadic rain since Cyclone Alfred had created trying times for the club.

"Even if it doesn't rain, we still lose business because people only come out when it's nice weather," he said.

"If it rains at midday and if our night-time bookings are sitting in the office, they'll think it's too miserable to come out."

Recreational tennis player Peter Fraser enjoys heading to the courts for a hit multiple times a week.

But he said the recent unpredictable weather had washed out a lot of his games.

"With the shower pattern at the moment, you don't know whether to come to the courts or not," Mr Fraser said.