Queensland's North Tropical Coast has been soaked by its heaviest rain since February, while much of Australia bathes in sunshine. A Tasman High extending a ridge along the QLD coast is directing moist southeasterly winds onto the tropical coast, generating persistent and locally heavy showers. This is the same high pressure system that is keeping skies clear over much of southern and eastern Australia this week, allowing temperatures to stay well above average for this time of the year. The heaviest falls during the 24 hours to 9am today occurred near Innisfail, south of Cairns. McAvoy Bridge recorded 157mm and a couple of other rain gauges in the area picked up more than 140mm. Innisfail itself received 115mm, which was the heaviest since February and takes the running total for May to 247mm, about 50mm short of the long term average. The high pressure ridge will maintain showery onshore winds over parts of eastern QLD for most of the next week. The heaviest falls will continue to target the stretch of coast between Innisfail and Cardwell, where another 30-50mm could accumulate by the end of the weekend. These falls may be enough to bring Innisfail up to the long term May average well before the end of the month.