After a run of severe thunderstorms, rain and even giant hail in late November, Brisbane will turn on the early summer sunshine for the second Ashes Test between Australia and England at The Gabba from Thursday, December 4 to Monday, December 8.

The first three days in particular look likely to bring clear skies with maximums of 29°C, 30°C and 32°C respectively.

By day four and five of the match, the chance of a shower or thunderstorm increases. The period from Sunday afternoon through to Monday morning has the highest potential for rain, however the likelihood of a significant interruption to the hours available for play appears minimal at this stage.

Will Brisbane’s famous humidity be a factor?

Brisbane is known for its humidity, and the most humid time of day in summer often tends to be the period from the late afternoon through to the early hours of the morning.

This match will be a day/night Test, with play scheduled between 2pm and 9pm (AEST), so a match like this would often be played in stifling conditions with high humidity.

This week will be a little different. For the first three days, Brisbane is expecting relatively low humidity by local standards for this time of year, with winds predominantly from the north and only brief intrusions of the northeasterlies that tend to make the city so sticky in summer.

Humidity in cricket is of course important not just for fan and player comfort, but for the state of the match itself. The cricket ball is said to swing more under humid conditions, and the pink ball used for day/night Tests is said to swing more than the traditional red ball, due to its slightly thicker lacquer coating.

It’s also worth noting that day/night Tests tend to last less time than daytime matches – again, because the extra swing of the pink ball tends to make batting more difficult.

Image: Cricket tragic? Check the forecast for your favourite Ashes venue in Australia on the Weatherzone app.

With the first Ashes Test in Perth Test having lasted only lasted two days, perhaps we’ll only need a two or three day forecast for Brisbane – and as mentioned the first three days look perfect.

But if you believe England will put up a better fight this time and you happen to want a five-day forecast with predictions on temperature, humidity and more, check our Brisbane forecast page.