Temperature range
Typical highs and lows
High28.8°C
Low19.4°C
The broad yearly range between warm daytime highs and the coolest overnight lows.
Australia Cairns, Australia
Cairns experiences a maritime climate, where average temperatures vary from a low of 23°C / 73°F in July to a high of 29°C / 84°F in February.
Precipitation is distributed throughout the year, averaging 117 mm / 4.6 inches monthly, peaking in January (277 mm / 10.9 inches) and reaching its lowest in September (23 mm / 0.91 inches).
UV peaks in January (index 10) and drops to its lowest in June (index 6); strong sun protection is essential during summer months.
Daylight hours range from about 11.1 hours in June to 13.1 hours in December.
Trip planning
Plan your trip
Find the best dates. Understand the conditions. Pack with confidence.
Climate overview
Climate at a glance
The big-picture stats that matter for planning your visit to Cairns.
Rain pattern
Wettest point of the year
277 mm
January carries the highest typical rainfall load.
Sun exposure
Typical peak UV band
Very High (8.6)
A fast read on how strong midday sun typically gets across the year.
Daylight window
Seasonal daylight range
11 hrsto13 hrs
Useful for gauging how much sightseeing time you get in shorter versus longer seasons.
Wind profile
Typical breeze strength
12 km/h
May is typically the breeziest month.
Humidity
Typical moisture range
75 %to83 %
A quick signal for how dry, comfortable, or heavy the air tends to feel.
When should I go?
Our top-rated months for visiting Cairns, based on long-term weather comfort and conditions
Typical weather by month
Compare all monthsTip: click on a card to see detailed daily weather averages for that month.
How Cairns compares
See how it ranks against the rest of Australia for key metrics.
HOTTEST (AVG)
in Australia
#3 / 14
COOLEST (AVG)
in Australia
#13 / 14
WETTEST (TOTAL)
in Australia
#2 / 14
WINDIEST (AVG)
in Australia
#6 / 14
HIGHEST UV
in Australia
#2 / 14
MOST HUMID
in Australia
#1 / 14
Short term outlook
Visiting soon? Here's the next 7 days of weather for Cairns, or see an hourly breakdown for the next 14 days.
Travel planning FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the weather questions you ask the most.
How does the weather in Cairns feel over the year?
On a typical year, you can expect highs around 26°C (79°F) and lows near 23°C (73°F). Conditions usually feel warm in the daytime and warm once the sun goes down. You may notice some humidity at times. Expect a mix of sun and cloud across the year.
When is the best time to visit Cairns for dry weather?
When is sun exposure strongest in Cairns?
UV tends to peak in January, when UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 10), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.
Is Cairns humid?
It can feel humid, especially in the warmer months, when humidity can climb to around 83%. Light, breathable fabrics help a lot on muggy days.
Is Cairns a windy place?
Across the year, average winds sit around 12 km/h (7 mph), with gusts on windier days up to about 72 km/h (45 mph). Overall it is it is a notably windy place, and strong gusts are fairly common.
How much daylight does Cairns get?
On average, days offer about 12 hours of daylight. Daylight is fairly typical, with enough time for sightseeing.