Summer in tropical Queensland

Extreme summer weather - satellite image of Cyclone Yasi

I expect everyone has noticed how the weather has become uncomfortably hot and humid. This time of year is known as the build-up - before the wet season really gets going. Right about now, unfortunate tropical north Queensland residents can be affected by something called 'mango madness', an anecdotal condition attributed to people exhibiting irrational behaviour brought on by the tropical heat. JCU Library has all sorts of resources relating to weather. If you are interested, you may want to have a look at:

• The Complete Book of Australian Weather
• The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide
• Taken by storm: Cyclone Larry 20/3/2006, stories from people affected by severe tropical Cyclone Larry
• Tropical Cyclones: Climatology and impacts in the South Pacific.

Townsville and Cairns weather forecasts are also available on the JCU website.