, with a hot, humid and rainy season from December to April, and a cooler and relatively dry season from May to August. From September to November, temperatures rise, and from October also the rains become more frequent, even though they are still generally not too abundant.
Cairns is located on the northeastern coast of Australia, in the region called Far North Queensland, at almost 17 degrees south latitude, in the southeast part of the great Cape York Peninsula. About 20 km (12 mi) north of the city is Ellis Beach, while 25 km (15.5 mi) away from Cairns is Green Island, belonging to the Great Barrier Reef.
that reach about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) in height and belong to the Great Dividing Range, which runs through the eastern part of Australia. These mountains are covered in forests and are protected in reserves and national parks.
, and the temperature can reach or exceed 35 °C (95 °F), while from November to February it can reach 40 °C (104 °F). At the end of November 2018, the temperature exceeded 37 °C (99 °F) for five days in a row and reached a maximum of 42.6 degrees Celsius (108.7 °F).
In the rainy season, particularly heavy rains can cause the overflow of the Barron River, which reaches the sea north of the city.
. Cyclones typically form from mid-November to mid-May, but are more likely from January to late March.
is warm enough for swimming even in this season, however, it can sometimes get a little cool at night, so the period from mid-September to mid-October may be preferred.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.8 °C, with a minimum of
24 °C and a maximum of
31.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
19.5 °C in January 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in January 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
385 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
February is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.8 °C, with a minimum of
24.1 °C and a maximum of
31.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C. However, it dropped to
19.6 °C in February 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
480 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
March is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.1 °C, with a minimum of
23.3 °C and a maximum of
30.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20 °C. However, it dropped to
17.7 °C in March 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
37.7 °C in March 1993.
Precipitation amounts to
375 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
April is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25.8 °C, with a minimum of
21.9 °C and a maximum of
29.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.9 °C in April 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
33.2 °C in April 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
180 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
May is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
24.1 °C, with a minimum of
20.2 °C and a maximum of
28 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10.6 °C in May 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
31.3 °C in May 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.5 °C, with a minimum of
18.5 °C and a maximum of
26.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8.9 °C in June 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
30.8 °C in June 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
45 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
July, the coolest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.7 °C, with a minimum of
17.2 °C and a maximum of
26.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7.9 °C in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
29.9 °C in July 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.2 °C, with a minimum of
17.3 °C and a maximum of
27 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
8.5 °C in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
31.2 °C in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
16.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.8 °C, with a minimum of
18.8 °C and a maximum of
28.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.3 °C in September 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
33.6 °C in September 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
15 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
October is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25.4 °C, with a minimum of
20.8 °C and a maximum of
29.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
14.4 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in October 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
15.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
November is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26.8 °C, with a minimum of
22.5 °C and a maximum of
31.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19 °C. However, it dropped to
16.6 °C in November 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
42.6 °C in November 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
December is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.6 °C, with a minimum of
23.6 °C and a maximum of
31.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
17.9 °C in December 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
185 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.