Cairns, Australia Climate & Monthly Averages
Cairns has a tropical wet-and-dry climate. February is the hottest month, averaging 87° by day; July is the coldest at 76°.
Rain, not cold, divides the year in Cairns
Cairns is genuinely wet: 73.8 inches (1875 mm) falls in an average year, across 160 days that carry about 11.7 mm each when they come. Temperatures are the calmer variable, running 76°F (24°C) to 87°F (31°C) between July and February.
The wet-and-dry rhythm at a glance
February is the warm end of the year, averaging 87°F (31°C) by day and 76°F (24°C) overnight. July sits at the other end of the year: 76°F (24°C) by day, 65°F (18°C) at night. Sunshine averages 10.3 hours a day over the year - sunnier than roughly 75% of the cities we track, peaking in October at 11.5 hours.
Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 3 months of the year, December through February being the unbroken run. Relative humidity averages 79% across the year, more humid than roughly 80% of the cities we track - enough that summer afternoons feel hotter than the thermometer says, which is what the dew point converter is for. Days and nights are about 6°C apart on average - narrower than all but 10% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.
Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 106°F (41°C) and the lowest daily minimum 50°F (10°C).
More climate facts for Cairns
- Hottest month: February - highs near 87°F (31°C)
- Coldest month: July - highs near 76°F (24°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 106°F (41°C) high · 50°F (10°C) low
- Wettest month: January (24 rainy days) · Sunniest: October (11.5 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 6°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 6°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 3
- Average humidity: 79%
Choosing the right part of the year in Cairns
Choose dates by rain, not just temperature
The best time to visit Cairns is generally May to October, when warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 79°F (26°C), with rain on about 9 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
What the humidity changes
Pack for Cairns with light clothing for the warm months, proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. Even in February, lows of 76°F (24°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Warm all year: the monthly rain pattern
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Cairns's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
February
- Rain
- 19 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.7 h
March
- Rain
- 20 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
April
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 10.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.7 h
May
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
June
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 11.1 h
July
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 9.8 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
August
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 10.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
September
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 11.1 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
October
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 11.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
November
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.9 h
December
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Cairns's coolest part of the year: July, June, August.
Monthly temperature and rain table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 87° | 76° | 24 | 16.4 in | 9.7 h/day | 13.0 h | 76% | 84% |
| February | 87° | 76° | 19 | 11.0 in | 9.9 h/day | 12.7 h | 69% | 83% |
| March | 85° | 75° | 20 | 13.1 in | 9.3 h/day | 12.2 h | 65% | 83% |
| April | 83° | 73° | 16 | 7.3 in | 10.2 h/day | 11.7 h | 52% | 80% |
| May | 79° | 70° | 12 | 3.3 in | 9.9 h/day | 11.3 h | 37% | 79% |
| June | 77° | 66° | 10 | 1.8 in | 9.7 h/day | 11.1 h | 32% | 78% |
| July | 76° | 65° | 8 | 2.3 in | 9.8 h/day | 11.2 h | 25% | 77% |
| August | 77° | 64° | 7 | 1.4 in | 10.2 h/day | 11.5 h | 23% | 75% |
| September | 80° | 67° | 8 | 1.6 in | 11.1 h/day | 12.0 h | 28% | 75% |
| October | 83° | 70° | 9 | 1.9 in | 11.5 h/day | 12.5 h | 28% | 76% |
| November | 86° | 73° | 12 | 2.3 in | 11.5 h/day | 12.9 h | 40% | 76% |
| December | 86° | 75° | 17 | 11.4 in | 10.6 h/day | 13.1 h | 54% | 80% |
How Cairns compares for rain and warmth
- Annual precipitation is 73.8 inches (1875 mm) - wetter than 90% of the 3496 cities we track.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
How the calendar changes in warm-weather Cairns
September through November
September through November is hot here - highs near 83°F (28°C), nights near 70°F (21°C), and expect showers on roughly 29 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 11.4 hours of sun a day.
December through February
December through February brings hot afternoons here - highs near 87°F (30°C), nights near 76°F (24°C), and rain falls on around 60 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.1 hours of sun a day.
March through May
Through March through May, Cairns runs hot: 82°F (28°C) by day, 73°F (23°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 47 of the 90 days.
June through August
June through August in Cairns brings comfortable warmth, with daytime highs averaging 76°F (25°C) and nights around 65°F (18°C); expect showers on roughly 24 days across the season.
Questions about heat and rain in Cairns
How many hot months does Cairns have?
Is Cairns hot in summer?
How humid does Cairns get?
How often does it rain in Cairns?
Cairns temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.