, with a hot, rainy season from December to March and a dry season from April to November, within which there is a relatively cool season from May to September.
The city is located on the northeastern coast of Australia, in Queensland, at 19 degrees south latitude. Near the coast is
. Off the coast is the
are decidedly less abundant than in the area to the north (see Cairns), which is the rainiest in Australia. However, the rains vary greatly depending on the year, so much so that in some years it can rain a lot even in April and November. Moreover, in summer, especially in January and February, which are already the rainiest months, there can sometimes be torrential rainfall.
, and the temperature can reach or exceed 35 °C (95 °F), while from November to February it can reach or exceed 40 °C (104 °F). The highest record is 44.3 °C (111.7 °F) and was set in January 1994. At the end of November 2018, the temperature exceeded 38 °C (100.5 °F) for five days in a row and reached a maximum of 41.7 degrees Celsius (107 °F).
. Cyclones typically form from mid-November to mid-May, but are more likely from late December to late March.
, which is also the driest of the year. In September, however, the risk of hot weather increases.
is warm enough for swimming even in this season, however, it can sometimes get a little cool at night, so the month of October may be preferred for a beach holiday.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.3 °C, with a minimum of
24.7 °C and a maximum of
31.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
18.7 °C in January 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
44.3 °C in January 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
255 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
February is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.2 °C, with a minimum of
24.7 °C and a maximum of
31.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C. However, it dropped to
19 °C in February 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
40.7 °C in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
340 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.8 °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
27.4 °C, with a minimum of
23.5 °C and a maximum of
31.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
17 °C in March 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
37 °C in March 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
155 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8 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
14.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
April is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25.6 °C, with a minimum of
21.1 °C and a maximum of
30.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
11 °C in April 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
35.4 °C in April 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
55 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 70%.
The average wind speed is of
14.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
May is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.1 °C, with a minimum of
18 °C and a maximum of
28.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
8.5 °C in May 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
32 °C in May 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
13.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.8 °C, with a minimum of
15.3 °C and a maximum of
26.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in June 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in June 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.8 °C, with a minimum of
14 °C and a maximum of
25.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in July 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
31 °C in July 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
13.9 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
12.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.3 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.6 °C, with a minimum of
14.8 °C and a maximum of
26.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5.1 °C in August 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
32.3 °C in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
13.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.2 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.2 °C, with a minimum of
17.9 °C and a maximum of
28.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
7.9 °C in September 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
36.5 °C in September 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
15.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
October is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25.5 °C, with a minimum of
21.1 °C and a maximum of
29.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.8 °C in October 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
36.3 °C in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
17.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
November is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
27.1 °C, with a minimum of
23.1 °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
15 °C in November 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
41.7 °C in November 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
December is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
28.2 °C, with a minimum of
24.5 °C and a maximum of
31.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °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
41.3 °C in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
120 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
17.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.