The tropical north Queensland town of Innisfail recorded just 12 millimetres of rain in August - more than 100 millimetres short of the average, and its driest August in 28 years.

The Bureau of Meteorology's August summary reported that Daintree Village, Port Douglas and the Whyanbeel Valley received between 0.4 millimetres to 4 millimetres of rain across the month, far below their double-figure averages.

There was little need for the umbrella in August. Credit:Fairfax Media

Bingil Bay, three hours north of Townsville, recorded just 0.2 millimetres, its driest August since 1927.

The lack of rainfall was compounded by some of Queensland's warmest-ever August temperatures, with Mackay and Coconut Island in the Torres Strait posting temperatures of 30 and 34 degrees.