Today’s forecast sees the temperature rise to a maximum of 28 degrees with areas of cloud and a chance of rain.

As the field prepares to fire off from the official ceremonial start from the Reef Hotel, some menacing clouds are gathering around the Cairns region which threatens to continue the trend of unseasonal rain in the area in recent weeks.

The bureau says there is a 10 percent chance of rain today however that threat increases across Saturday and Sunday.