I didnt know it was that proper wet in the west of Tassie Tropo...I always thought it was just miserably cold, windy and drizzly wet...

and your missus's experience reminded me of when Category 5 Cyclone Yasi smashed us over 10 years ago .We went through the northern part of the eye here... I had been through many cyclones before but my wife had not. She didn't know what to expect. When the wind started screaching and trees started to bend and break, I noticed her staring through the glass doors. That look of fear on her face will stay with me forever. I couldn't help but feel desperately sorry for her. The winds worsened and the rain intensified. She stared hauntingly through the doors for hours until the eye came over and all went calm. When the wind stopped, I was finally able to unlock the door and let her in.

Sheriden Mist, most places can acheive high daily total rainfall events with the right weather event or convergence occuring but Port Douglas is just similar to our Beachside areas down here on the Cassowary coast...more or less 2000mm yearly on the coast and double that just 15-20 kms west against the ranges...

But why then does that pattern not hold true around Cairns...?...still around 2000mm but against the ranges from Gordonvale to North of Kuranda they dont get that same doubling of rainfall effect that we see to the north and south..?

and 28 you wouldnt like it here...the mould this year is just insane...even one of our dogs smells mouldy...