📮 Yorkeys Knob postcode: 4878

Heat Risk in Yorkeys Knob, QLD: 2026 Assessment

Yorkeys Knob, Queensland· Cairns· 4878
Yorkeys Knob experiences high temperatures and humidity during the summer months, increasing the risk of heat stress, particularly for vulnerable populations.Updated 10 Mar 2026

Heat Risk Score

6.0/10

Yorkeys Knob experiences high temperatures and humidity during the summer months, increasing the risk of heat stress, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Key Facts

Heat Risk
Yorkeys Knob experiences high temperatures and humidity during the summer months, increasing the risk of heat stress, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Yorkeys Knob, QLD
Overall Risk
Medium
Postcode
4878
Highest high-risk exposure
14% of land (bushfire)

Heat Risk Analysis

Yorkeys Knob in Queensland faces elevated extreme heat risk. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) reports that Australia's average temperature has increased by approximately 1.5 °C since 1910, with the frequency of extreme heat days rising across most regions.

The urban heat island (UHI) effect can make built-up areas of Yorkeys Knob warmer than surrounding rural areas, particularly on summer nights. Dark roof materials, limited tree canopy cover, and heat-absorbing surfaces contribute to localised heat stress that varies by property.

The high humidity levels in Yorkeys Knob exacerbate the effects of high temperatures, increasing the risk of heat stress.

Get an address-level heat risk assessment from ClimateNest for Yorkeys Knob including cooling cost estimates, heatwave vulnerability scoring, and adaptation recommendations tailored to your property.

Yorkeys Knob (postcode 4878) is tracked in ClimateNest's suburb hazard model, which maps the share of the suburb's land exposed to each hazard at high and moderate levels. The suburb's highest high-risk exposures are bushfire (14% of land in high-risk zones), extreme wind (12.4% of land in high-risk zones), tropical cyclone (10.6% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Yorkeys Knob — individual properties can sit well above or below these averages, so an address-level check is recommended before buying, selling or insuring.

Local Hazard Evidence

Avg January Max Temp31.5 °C
Heat Stress Events/Year5
Urban Heat ContextThe high humidity levels in Yorkeys Knob exacerbate the effects of high temperatures, increasing the risk of heat stress.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Upgrade Drainage Infrastructure

Near-term

Improve stormwater drainage systems to reduce the risk of flash flooding during heavy rainfall events.

Est. cost: Medium

Protect Coastal Ecosystems

Near-term

Restore and protect mangrove forests and dunes to provide natural buffers against coastal erosion and storm surges.

Est. cost: Medium

Develop a Heatwave Management Plan

Immediate

Implement a plan to protect vulnerable populations during heatwaves, including establishing cooling centers and providing public awareness campaigns.

Est. cost: Low

Raise Awareness of Climate Risks

Long-term

Educate residents about the risks of climate change and provide guidance on how to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.

Est. cost: Low

Strengthen Building Codes

Near-term

Update building codes to ensure that new construction is resilient to flooding, coastal inundation, and extreme heat.

Est. cost: Medium

Council & Emergency Services

Cairns Regional Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 10 March 2026

Explore Yorkeys Knob Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

How hot does Yorkeys Knob get in summer?

Yorkeys Knob in Queensland experiences summer temperatures consistent with the regional climate. BOM publishes historical temperature data for weather stations near Yorkeys Knob. Get a property-specific heat exposure assessment with projected cooling costs from ClimateNest.

Is extreme heat increasing in Yorkeys Knob?

Australia-wide, extreme heat events have become more frequent since the mid-20th century, and this trend is consistent with CSIRO climate projections for Queensland. Continued warming is likely through 2050 under all emissions scenarios.

How does heat affect energy costs for Yorkeys Knob properties?

Higher temperatures increase cooling demand, which raises electricity costs. ClimateNest provides energy cost projections based on your property's specific exposure to extreme heat days in Yorkeys Knob and the performance of your building envelope.

What heat mitigation measures work best in Yorkeys Knob?

Effective heat mitigation includes light-coloured roofing (cool roofs), ceiling and wall insulation, double-glazed windows, external shading, cross-ventilation design, and increasing tree canopy around the property. These measures reduce indoor temperatures and cooling costs.

What share of Yorkeys Knob is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 14% of Yorkeys Knob in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 58.7% in moderate-risk zones. Suburb-level exposure is not uniform — individual properties can differ from these averages, so an address-level check is recommended.

Is Yorkeys Knob Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Yorkeys Knob, Queensland, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.

Free instant previewCSIRO-powered data

What A$69 could save you from

$7.2B
2022 insured disaster losses*
$300B+
climate risk to property by 2050*
30-120%
insurance premium increases in high-risk areas*

*Industry sources: ICA, APRA, RBA

Full report from A$69 · Australian addresses only · 8 hazard scores · Insurance trajectory · 2030 & 2050 projections