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Monthly climate in Cairns, Australia

Last updated: July 31, 2025

Under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification Cairns features a tropical monsoon climate (Am). Temperatures typically range between 20 °C (68 °F) and 26 °C (79 °F) through the year, but rarely can drop to 13 °C (56 °F) or can rise to as high as 35 °C (95 °F). The average annual precipitation amounts to about 1541 mm (60.7 inches) and receives 152 rainy days on the 1 mm (0.04 inches) threshold annually. Cairns enjoys an average of 3420 hours of sunshine throughout the year, and daylight varies from 11 hours 6 minutes to 13 hours 6 minutes per day.

Monthly average temperatures in Cairns, Australia

The warmest months in Cairns are January, February and December, with daily mean temperatures ranging from 26 to 26 °C (78 - 79 °F) throughout the day. The coldest temperatures usually occur in June, July and August, when daily mean temperatures range from 20 to 20 °C (68 - 68 °F) throughout the day. On average each year, Cairns experiences 199 days above 25 °C (77.0 °F) and 0 days below 0 °C (32.0 °F).

Monthly average temperatures with daily means, minimums and maximums for period, average high and low temperatures in Cairns. Generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Data for period from January 2017 to June 2022.
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Maximum33°C
(92°F)		35°C
(95°F)		33°C
(91°F)		31°C
(88°F)		27°C
(81°F)		27°C
(80°F)		26°C
(79°F)		29°C
(84°F)		27°C
(80°F)		29°C
(84°F)		34°C
(94°F)		33°C
(92°F)
Mean maximum32°C
(89°F)		32°C
(91°F)		31°C
(88°F)		29°C
(85°F)		26°C
(80°F)		25°C
(77°F)		24°C
(76°F)		26°C
(79°F)		26°C
(79°F)		28°C
(83°F)		30°C
(86°F)		31°C
(88°F)
Average high28°C
(83°F)		29°C
(84°F)		28°C
(83°F)		26°C
(80°F)		24°C
(76°F)		23°C
(73°F)		23°C
(73°F)		23°C
(74°F)		24°C
(75°F)		26°C
(79°F)		27°C
(81°F)		28°C
(84°F)
Daily mean26°C
(78°F)		26°C
(79°F)		25°C
(78°F)		24°C
(75°F)		22°C
(72°F)		20°C
(68°F)		20°C
(68°F)		20°C
(68°F)		21°C
(70°F)		23°C
(74°F)		24°C
(76°F)		26°C
(78°F)
Average low24°C
(75°F)		24°C
(75°F)		23°C
(74°F)		22°C
(72°F)		20°C
(68°F)		18°C
(65°F)		18°C
(64°F)		18°C
(64°F)		18°C
(65°F)		20°C
(69°F)		22°C
(72°F)		23°C
(74°F)
Mean minimum22°C
(72°F)		21°C
(71°F)		21°C
(71°F)		20°C
(68°F)		16°C
(62°F)		16°C
(60°F)		15°C
(59°F)		15°C
(58°F)		16°C
(60°F)		17°C
(64°F)		20°C
(68°F)		22°C
(71°F)
Minimum21°C
(70°F)		18°C
(65°F)		21°C
(69°F)		17°C
(63°F)		13°C
(56°F)		13°C
(56°F)		14°C
(57°F)		13°C
(56°F)		14°C
(57°F)		15°C
(59°F)		19°C
(66°F)		21°C
(70°F)

Compare climate in Cairns with other places

Compare temperature, precipitation, sunshine, UV index in Cairns, Australia with other places around the world.

Monthly average precipitation in Cairns, Australia

Cairns usually has the most precipitation in January, February and March, with an average of 22 rainy days and 325 mm (12.8 inches) of precipitation per month. The driest months in Cairns are July, August and September. On average, 25 mm (1.0 inches) of precipitation falls during these months.

Monthly average precipitation and precipitation days in Cairns. Generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Data for period from January 2017 to January 2022.
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average precipitation mm (inches)400 (15.7)287 (11.3)289 (11.4)163 (6.4)51 (2.0)37 (1.5)33 (1.3)19 (0.7)21 (0.8)35 (1.4)38 (1.5)166 (6.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)21212415131174551115

Monthly sunshine hours in Cairns, Australia

The sunniest months in Cairns are October, November and December, when the sun shines an average of 10 hours 31 minutes a day. Least sunny months in Cairns: January, February and June receive an average of 8 hours 15 minutes of sunshine daily.

Mean monthly sunshine duration, average sunshine hours per day and mean daily daylight hours in Cairns. Generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Data for period from January 2017 to January 2022.
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean monthly sunshine hours228259280284277255275292297320324323
Mean daily daylight hours13h 0m12h 38m12h 9m11h 41m11h 18m11h 6m11h 12m11h 32m11h 59m12h 28m12h 53m13h 6m

Solar UV radiation in Cairns, Australia

Cairns experiences the highest level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in January, February and December, when the maximum UV index can reach values of 16 - 16, which corresponds to the Extreme category of sun exposure. May, June and July are in the Very High exposure category. In these months, the maximum values of the UV index do not exceed 10. For more detailed information, check out our hourly Cairns UV Index data.

Average daily maximum UV levels by month for Cairns. Generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Data for period from January 2022 to January 2023.
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
UV Index (month maximum)16161513108101214151516