Canberra, Australia Climate & Monthly Averages
Canberra has an oceanic climate. January is the hottest month, averaging 81° by day; July is the coldest at 51°.
Sunshine is a defining feature of Canberra's climate
Canberra is a oceanic city - mild temperatures year-round with regular rainfall. January is the warmest month at 81°F (27°C) and July the coolest at 51°F (11°C), over 27.7 inches (704 mm) of precipitation a year.
How sun, temperature and rain fit together
Sunshine averages 9.8 hours a day over the year, peaking in December at 12.1 hours. July bottoms out at 51°F (11°C) in daylight, 35°F (1°C) after dark. January is the warm end of the year, averaging 81°F (27°C) by day and 59°F (15°C) overnight. Precipitation concentrates in November - 3.4 inches (86 mm) on 10 days - and thins out by July.
Six of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is February through April. Days and nights are about 11°C apart on average - wider than roughly 83% of the cities we track. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 108°F (42°C) and bottoms at 21°F (-6°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
More climate facts for Canberra
- Hottest month: January - highs near 81°F (27°C)
- Coldest month: July - highs near 51°F (11°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 108°F (42°C) high · 21°F (-6°C) low
- Wettest month: November (10 rainy days) · Sunniest: December (12.1 h sun/day)
- Climate type: oceanic
- Annual swing: 15°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 11°C
- Average humidity: 74%
The most comfortable sunny-weather window
Best time to visit Canberra
February to April and September is the sweet spot for Canberra - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 72°F (22°C) in the afternoon and around 7 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in February.
What to pack
Pack for Canberra with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Even in January, lows of 59°F (15°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 81° | 59° | 9 | 3.1 in | 11.4 h/day | 14.3 h | 30% | 67% |
| February | 79° | 57° | 6 | 1.9 in | 11.2 h/day | 13.4 h | 21% | 68% |
| March | 74° | 54° | 8 | 2.3 in | 10.0 h/day | 12.4 h | 25% | 71% |
| April | 67° | 47° | 6 | 2.0 in | 9.2 h/day | 11.2 h | 19% | 76% |
| May | 58° | 40° | 6 | 1.6 in | 8.5 h/day | 10.3 h | 19% | 82% |
| June | 52° | 36° | 7 | 2.2 in | 7.4 h/day | 9.8 h | 24% | 86% |
| July | 51° | 35° | 8 | 1.5 in | 7.9 h/day | 10.0 h | 25% | 84% |
| August | 54° | 36° | 8 | 2.3 in | 8.4 h/day | 10.8 h | 26% | 81% |
| September | 60° | 40° | 6 | 2.1 in | 10.0 h/day | 11.9 h | 19% | 74% |
| October | 67° | 46° | 9 | 2.5 in | 10.4 h/day | 13.1 h | 29% | 70% |
| November | 72° | 51° | 10 | 3.4 in | 11.3 h/day | 14.0 h | 32% | 67% |
| December | 78° | 55° | 8 | 2.7 in | 12.1 h/day | 14.5 h | 25% | 63% |
Canberra month by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Canberra's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
February
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 13.4 h
March
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
April
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
May
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 8.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.3 h
June
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 7.4 h
- Daylight
- 9.8 h
July
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.9 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
August
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.8 h
September
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
October
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
November
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 14.0 h
December
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 12.1 h
- Daylight
- 14.5 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Canberra's coolest part of the year: July, June, August.
Seasonal weather under Canberra's sunnier skies
Spring (September through November)
Through spring, Canberra is crisp but comfortable: 67°F (19°C) by day, 45°F (7°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 24 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.6 hours of sun a day.
Summer (December through February)
Through summer, Canberra is mild and warm: 80°F (26°C) by day, 57°F (14°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 23 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 11.6 hours of sun a day.
Fall (March through May)
Through fall, Canberra is crisp but comfortable: 66°F (19°C) by day, 47°F (8°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 20 days across the season.
Winter (June through August)
Through winter, Canberra is brisk and cold: 52°F (11°C) by day, 35°F (2°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 23 days across the season.
How unusual is Canberra?
- Canberra sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 55°F (13°C) as an annual average, 27.7 inches (704 mm) of precipitation and 9.8 hours of sun a day.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
Canberra 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.