2026 Climate Averages

Cairns: Weather Guide & Climate

Complete month-by-month weather guide: Cairns. Best time to visit: April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Plan your trip with detailed climate data.

☀️ Climate Overview

Cairns has a Warm climate with average yearly highs of 28°C, lows of 23°C, and approximately 13 rainy days per month.

The best time to visit Cairns is during April, May, June, July, August, September, October, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is moderate

Drier season: Jun–Nov Wetter season: Jan–Dec

Now

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Feels like --
Wind --
Humidity --
UV Index --
Local time —

Air Quality

Best Time

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Conditions Excellent

Hottest

31°C January
Avg Low 26°C
Rain 24 days

Coldest

20°C July
Avg High 25°C
Rain 7 days

Driest Month

6 rainy days October
Avg High 29°C
Avg Low 23°C

Windiest Month

18 km/h

May (gusts 43)

Sea Temp Range

24° – 30°C

Warmest water: January (30°C)

Best for swimming: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec (24°–30°C)

Forecast for your trip dates

Up to 14 days ahead

Weather by Season

Spring

Sep–Nov

High 28°C
Low 23°C
Rain 8 days
Crowds
Busy
Travel Costs Shoulder Rates

Summer

Dec–Feb

High 31°C
Low 26°C
Rain 21 days
Crowds
Very Quiet
Travel Costs Value Rates

Autumn

Mar–May

High 28°C
Low 24°C
Rain 16 days
Crowds
Busy
Travel Costs Shoulder Rates

Winter

Jun–Aug

High 25°C
Low 20°C
Rain 8 days
Crowds
Very Busy
Travel Costs Peak Rates

Month-by-Month Weather Table

January

Wet
31° / 26°
24d (449mm)
9h
85% Very Muggy
UV 7.6 Very High

February

Wet
31° / 26°
22d (400mm)
8.7h
86% Very Muggy
UV 7.2 Very High

March

Wet
30° / 25°
20d (242mm)
9.3h
85% Very Muggy
UV 7.4 Very High

April

Best
Excellent
29° / 24°
16d (190mm)
9.6h
84% Very Muggy
UV 6.7 High

May

Best
Excellent
26° / 22°
12d (65mm)
9.7h
83% Very Humid
UV 6 High

June

Best
Excellent
25° / 21°
8d (31mm)
9.4h
82% Very Humid
UV 5.4 High

July

Best
Excellent
25° / 20°
7d (41mm)
9.6h
81% Very Humid
UV 5.7 High

August

Best
Excellent
25° / 20°
8d (38mm)
9.9h
79% Humid
UV 6.8 High

September

Best
Excellent
26° / 21°
9d (32mm)
10.6h
80% Very Humid
UV 7.9 Very High

October

Best
Excellent
29° / 23°
6d (20mm)
11.6h
79% Muggy
UV 9.6 Very High

November

Good
30° / 24°
9d (56mm)
11.7h
79% Muggy
UV 9.7 Very High

December

Wet
30° / 25°
17d (360mm)
10.2h
83% Very Muggy
UV 8.5 Very High

⚖️Find Your Ideal Month

Adjust the sliders to weight what matters most to you.

5
3
3
Your Best MonthDecScore: 8.5
1.Dec
8.52.Mar
83.Jan
7.64.Feb
7.65.Nov
7.46.Jun
5.67.Jul
5.68.Aug
5.69.Sep
5.610.Oct
5.611.May
5.212.Apr
4.7

Where to Stay

See hotels, apartments & rentals around Cairns – live prices from Booking.com, Expedia, Vrbo and more

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Cairns

Great Barrier Reef gateway, including rainforest, Great Barrier Reef diving and Daintree Rainforest, diving, and tropical islands.

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Ready to Plan Your Cairns Trip?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What type of climate does Cairns have?
Cairns has a warm climate with average yearly temperatures of 28°C and 23°C.
When is the best time to visit Cairns?
The best time to visit Cairns is during April, May, June, July, August, September, October, when temperatures average around 29°C and conditions are ideal for sightseeing.
What are the hottest and coldest months in Cairns?
The hottest month in Cairns is January with average highs of 31°C, while the coldest is July with average lows of 20°C.
When is the rainy season in Cairns?
Cairns sees the most rain in January (24 rainy days), while October is the driest month (6 rainy days).
Does it get cold at night in Cairns?
Night temperatures vary throughout the year. The coldest nights are in July (20°C), while January has the warmest evenings (26°C). Pack layers for cooler months.
Can you swim year-round in Cairns?
Sea temperatures in Cairns range from 24°C to 30°C throughout the year. The warmest water is in January. Swimming is comfortable year-round.

Weather Data: Based on 2020–2025 historical climate data from Open-Meteo

Last Updated: February 2026

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