Climate in Cairns — Annual Weather Overview
Cairns has a tropical climate — hot and humid year-round with a distinct wet season. The hottest month is February (average high 30.8°C) and the coolest is July (24.5°C). Temperatures are consistent year-round, with highs ranging only 6.3°C between the warmest and coolest months. Annual rainfall totals around 2106mm. January is the wettest month at 417.4mm, while October averages just 41.5mm. Average daily sunshine is 10.1 hours.
**Spring (September, October, November):** average highs 28.7°C, 178mm rain. **Summer (December, January, February):** average highs 30.6°C, 1078mm rain. **Autumn (March, April, May):** average highs 28.3°C, 672mm rain. **Winter (June, July, August):** average highs 25.0°C, 178mm rain.
Cairns — Monthly Temperatures
Cairns — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Cairns stays reasonable all year.
Cairns weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.4°C | 24.1°C | 417.4mm | 9.0h | 23 | 8/10 |
| February | 30.8°C | 24.4°C | 316.5mm | 9.4h | 20 | 8/10 |
| March | 30.0°C | 23.8°C | 230.3mm | 9.9h | 18 | 8/10 |
| April | 28.8°C | 23.0°C | 337.0mm | 9.8h | 16 | 8/10 |
| May | 26.2°C | 20.3°C | 104.8mm | 9.9h | 10 | 9/10 |
| June | 25.3°C | 19.5°C | 48.2mm | 9.8h | 10 | 10/10 |
| July | 24.5°C | 17.9°C | 75.4mm | 9.8h | 9 | 10/10 |
| August | 25.2°C | 17.9°C | 53.9mm | 9.8h | 10 | 10/10 |
| September | 26.5°C | 19.8°C | 55.9mm | 11.0h | 10 | 10/10 |
| October | 29.4°C | 21.3°C | 41.5mm | 11.6h | 6 | 10/10 |
| November | 30.2°C | 22.6°C | 81.0mm | 11.2h | 14 | 10/10 |
| December | 30.6°C | 23.9°C | 343.7mm | 10.1h | 17 | 8/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Cairns and the Cairns rainy season guide. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Sorted on weather — now sort the packing
Our sister site has a ready-made checklist for this exact trip.
Cairns packing list →More about Australia — currency, language and key facts at 247CountryInfo →
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Cairns have?
Cairns has a tropical climate — hot and humid year-round with a distinct wet season. Average highs range from 24.5°C in July to 30.8°C in February.
What is the hottest month in Cairns?
February is the hottest month in Cairns, with average highs of 30.8°C and lows of 24.4°C.
What is the coldest month in Cairns?
July is the coolest month, with average highs of 24.5°C and lows of 17.9°C.
What is the wettest month in Cairns?
January is the wettest month, averaging 417.4mm of rainfall over around 23 rainy days.
When is rainy season in Cairns?
Rainy season in Cairns runs December to May, when rainfall is significantly higher than the rest of the year. Full rainy season guide →
How much rain does Cairns get per year?
Cairns receives around 2106mm of rain per year. The driest month is October (41.5mm).
When is the best time to visit Cairns?
The best time to visit Cairns is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
Compare Hertz, Avis, Budget, Sixt and 800+ rental companies — book now, pay at pickup.
Compare car hire prices → Affiliate link — we earn a commission at no extra cost to youAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
For the packing side of things, our sister site has a ready-made checklist: Cairns packing list at 247PackingList. For currency, language and country facts see the Australia guide at 247CountryInfo.
Trip essentials for Cairns
UPF 50+ sun protection
Cairns's strong UV calls for proper coverage — BloqUV blocks 98%.
Get BloqUV →Sunglasses for sunny trips
Heading somewhere this sunny? Otra's trend-led frames are built for travel.
Get Otra Eyewear →Check clothing sizes in Australia at 247Sizing before you shop for the trip.
More Cairns travel essentials
Book UK airport parking
Flying out to Cairns from the UK? Compare Gatwick, Luton, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle.
Compare Airport Parking →Keep your indoor air clean
HEPA filtration for wildfire smoke, seasonal haze and everyday pollution — evergreen best-seller.
Shop PuroAir →Last updated:
Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.