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Cairns has a tropical wet-dry climate defined by two distinct seasons: the Wet Season (November to April) characterised by monsoonal rain, high humidity, intense thunderstorms, and the occasional cyclone, and the Dry Season (May to October) characterised by clear blue skies, low humidity, temperatures of 22 to 28°C, and the conditions that make Cairns one of Australia's finest winter tourism destinations. The Wet Season is not simply rain; it is the defining ecological process of the Wet Tropics that creates the extraordinary biodiversity of the Daintree rainforest and the reef.
Wet Season (November to April) — Cairns receives approximately 2,000mm of annual rainfall, with about 80% falling between November and April. The wet season brings daily afternoon thunderstorms of extraordinary intensity, extended periods of overcast and rain (the "January hole" weather pattern can bring cloud cover and rain for weeks at a time), high humidity (80 to 90%), temperatures of 29 to 32°C, and the box jellyfish and Irukandji season that restricts ocean swimming at the Cairns beaches. The Esplanade Lagoon (stinger-proof, free) is the primary safe swimming option from November to May. Tropical cyclones occasionally affect the Cairns coast in the wet season: Cyclone Yasi (2011) was the most destructive modern event.
Dry Season (May to October) — the Cairns Dry Season is one of the finest climatic environments in Australia: clear blue skies every day (the sun shines 8 to 9 hours daily from May to October), temperatures of 22 to 28°C, humidity below 50%, no stingers in the water (ocean swimming is safe), and the visibility that makes Great Barrier Reef diving and snorkelling at its absolute best. July temperatures average 25°C maximum, 18°C minimum. This is also the peak tourist season.
Shoulder seasons (April-May and October-November) — April and May are the best value months: the wet season has ended, humidity drops, the crowds have not yet peaked, and the Great Barrier Reef is in excellent condition after the wet season flush. October is also good before the stinger season begins in November.
This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.
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