UPDATE: RAIN has finally poured down on the Far North this afternoon, with up to 100mm recorded in some parts of the region.

A total of 102mm has fallen at Nerada at since 9am, 90mm at Fisher Creek, west of Innisfail and 51mm Murray Flats near Tully.

More than 80mm has been recorded at Copperlode Dam, 59mm at Cairns Racecourse, 57mm at Hills Creek and 25mm in Cairns.

Malanda has had about 14mm, Mareeba 11mm and 24mm at Saddle Mountain at Kuranda

Possible heavy falls with thunderstorms are expected through the night.

EARLIER: RAIN could begin affecting the Far North coastline as early as 1pm today with forecasters also warning of storm activity throughout the afternoon.

Duty forecaster Adam Blazac said most parts of the coast will see falls of around 20mm today, with up to 100mm in some spots.

He said they had already recorded a number of lightning strikes north and east of Cairns over the ocean with storms also likely.

media_camera Storms building on the tablelands over green island and Arlington reef. PHOTO: Guy Sullivan

“We would expect (rainfall) to increase in the afternoon and evening,” he said.

“There should be pretty heavy shower activity.

“It should go through to early tomorrow morning.”

media_camera Lightning strikes over Smithfield as storms hit Cairns. Photo: Josh Eldred

Weather watcher Travers Jamieson captured a video of some of the lightning strikes around Cairns yesterday while standing outside his workplace in Smithfield.

HEATWAVE: Nation set to bake in weekend heatwave

He said he was hopeful of more today.

“I get so excited, if there’s lightning I go crazy,” he said.

Timelapse of storms rolling in over Cairns VIDEO: Travers Jamieson Timelapse of storms rolling in over Cairns VIDEO: Travers Jamieson

“I wish I could have watched more of it (yesterday).

“Me and a friend are always looking for places to get lightning shots. We’ve got a few secret spots.”

EARLIER: THREE Far Northern towns have hit record January temperatures this week with the mercury rising up to four degrees above average.

Innisfail recorded 40.5 degrees at 11.29am on Wednesday, breaking a 24-year record.

Coen also hit a top of 39.7 degrees on Wednesday, surpassing the 2013 January record of 38.7 degrees.

media_camera Summer is here with a vengeance, with temps hitting nearly 36 degrees by 11am. Hudson Rothwell, 7, and Maddison Bruggemann, 10, get splashed by their older brother Jordan Bruggemann, 12, while cooling off at The Rocks in Redlynch. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

Mareeba reached a maximum of 38 degrees on the same day, breaking the 2014 record of 37.8 degrees.

WEATHER: Cairns swelters through another scorcher

While Cairns has also been hit with temperatures in the high 30s throughout the week, the city is yet to reach the January record of 40.4 degrees.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for heavy rainfall about the tropical interior over the next few hours. Monitor latest radar and warnings at: https://t.co/CdHKdbksRC #QldStorm pic.twitter.com/EmPxHUQ4G1 — Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 4, 2018

Some towns have experienced rainfall and thunderstorms this week with 61mm of rain recorded at Kirrana Range, south of Tully on Wednesday, and 51mm at Millaa Millaa.

Mt Garnet also recorded 25-35mm of rain.

More rain is expected across the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands District today.