Avg High
Cairns in August
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
12h
What to expect
Cairns is in late winter during August, with the season well established by this point. It leans warmly comfortable through the day, with a fairly even feel across the day. You get a comfortable daylight window for day trips and sightseeing. Conditions tend to feel steady, which makes planning simple.
August in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Cairns.
Hottest (avg)
#11 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#11 / 12
Daylight Hours
#9 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#5 / 12
Highest UV
#9 / 12
Most Humid
#11 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 11.6 h
- UV index (max)
- 8
- Typical sun hours
- 06:33 - 18:06
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 9 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 48%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 76%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for August. Typical high 23.4°C and low 18.0°C.
Typical disruptions in August
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in August.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.5 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.5 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~69km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 4% of days (1.4 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.4 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.4 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~27mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Humidity Moderate
Muggy days Measures: Muggy days (dew point >=20C). Observed about 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.6 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.6 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22°C (P95)
Muggy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Moderate
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 4% of days (1.4 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.4 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.4 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~27mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Show all disruptions (15 more)
Rain High impact
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~42mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.4 days/month in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~30mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~59km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 55% of days (16.9 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.9 days / month
~55% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.9 days / month
- Probability ~55% of days
- Intensity Up to ~62km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~17 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 43% of days (13.2 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.2 days / month
~43% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.2 days / month
- Probability ~43% of days
- Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~13 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 39% of days (12.0 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.0 days / month
~39% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.0 days / month
- Probability ~39% of days
- Intensity Up to ~9.1mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~12 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 33% of days (10.1 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.1 days / month
~33% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.1 days / month
- Probability ~33% of days
- Intensity Up to ~97% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~10 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 28% of days (8.7 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.7 days / month
~28% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.7 days / month
- Probability ~28% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~9 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Humidity Minor
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 25% of days (7.7 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.7 days / month
~25% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.7 days / month
- Probability ~25% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21°C (P95)
Humid conditions are possible on ~8 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 20% of days (6.4 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.4 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.4 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 12% of days (3.8 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.8 days / month
~12% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.8 days / month
- Probability ~12% of days
- Intensity Up to ~98% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~4 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humidity Minor
Convective risk Measures: Convective storm risk proxy. Observed about 3% of days (0.9 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22°C (P95)
Convective risk signal appears on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Visibility Minor
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Other Minor
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is August a good time to visit Cairns?
Typical August days in Cairns reach highs of 23°C (73°F) with nights around 20°C (68°F). It usually feels warm by day and mild after dark. It is one of the drier months, which suits outdoor exploring and sightseeing.
What are temperatures like in August?
Daytime temperatures in August typically peak near 23°C (73°F), while nights drop to around 20°C (68°F). Expect warm afternoons and mild evenings.
How much does it rain in August?
Rainfall in August averages 31 mm (1.2 in) across roughly 9 days. Overall it is a quite rainy time of year, so showers are usually brief rather than all-day downpours.
How many hours of daylight are there in August?
You can expect about 12 hours of daylight in August. Sunrise is typically around 06:33 and sunset near 18:06. Daylight is fairly typical, with enough time for sightseeing.
How strong is the sun in August?
UV levels are often high (around 8). Regular sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
Is it windy in August?
In August, average wind speeds are around 13 km/h (8 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 68 km/h (42 mph). On the ground, it is it is a notably windy place, and strong gusts are fairly common.