Cairns Weather Today — Current Conditions and 7-Day Cairns Forecast

Cairns Weather Today

Cairns has a tropical monsoon climate — one of the most dramatic weather patterns of any Australian city. The city's position at 16°S latitude, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef and backed by the Wet Tropics rainforest, produces extreme seasonal variation between the wet season and dry season. Cairns is one of the wettest significant cities in Australia during the monsoon months.

Cairns Climate — What to Expect Each Season

• Wet Season (November to April) — Very hot, humid and wet. January averages 31.4°C maximum with high humidity making the heat feel oppressive. Tropical cyclones can affect Far North Queensland during this period, with the official season from November to April. Heavy rainfall events (over 100mm in a day) are common. The Wet Tropics rainforest is at its most lush and green.
• Build-up (October to November) — Hot and increasingly humid as the wet season approaches. Thunderstorms become frequent. This is often considered the most uncomfortable period in Cairns.
• Dry Season (May to September) — Cairns' most popular tourist season. Warm and sunny with very low humidity. Average July maximum: 25.8°C, minimum: 17.0°C. Virtually no rainfall. Conditions are outstanding for reef and rainforest tourism.
• Shoulder (September to October) — Still dry but temperatures and humidity begin rising. October can still have excellent conditions for visitors.

Cairns Rainfall

Cairns receives approximately 2,009mm of rainfall per year — among the highest of any Australian city. However, this is almost entirely concentrated in the November to April wet season. The dry season months of June to September average fewer than 15mm each.

Current Cairns Weather Sources

The Bureau of Meteorology at bom.gov.au provides official Cairns weather forecasts, tropical cyclone warnings and severe weather alerts for Far North Queensland.

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