Cairns weather in January (Queensland, Australia)

Looking to travel to Cairns in January? Wondering if it's an optimal time for a visit? This page provides detailed information on the weather conditions for that month.

In January, Cairns typically experiences high temperatures and heavy rainfall. Throughout the daytime, temperatures often hover around 29°C. However, as the sun sets and evening approaches, there's a noticeable cool-down, with temperatures gently dropping to a more temperate 24°C. Remember, these are typical temperatures, and certain days could be even hotter. Ensure you wear appropriate clothing to handle the warmth.

Cairns in January falls under the rainy season with heavy rainfall, averaging around 252 mm for the month. Based on our climate data of the past 30 years, about 14 days of rain are anticipated.

With around 208 hours of sunshine, the days are mostly sunny. It gives a pleasant and vibrant feel to the area.

If you prefer dry days with pleasant temperatures, May, June, July, August, September, October and November typically offer the best circumstances. While February tends to showcase less optimal conditions.

For an in-depth look at the yearly conditions, visit our specialized Cairns climate page with graphs.

 

Cairns, monthly averages in January

Min Temperature 24°C  

Max Temperature 29°C  

Water Temperature 28°C  

Chance of Rain 45%  

Precipitation 252 mm  

Rainy days 14 days  

Humidity 68%  

Sunshine 208 hours  

Percentage Sunshine  

Where to go in Australia in January

Find out more about the weather in Australia in January and which places have the best weather conditions in this month.

Weather conditions Weather

Temperatures

Precipitation

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Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

So, what should you wear in Cairns in January?

It's going to be warm! Consider airy clothing, t-shirts, and other summer clothes. Shorts for men made of cotton or linen are good options for staying cool. However, there's a good chance of rain, so bring a raincoat just in case. With a water temperature of around 28°C this is a great month to swim so bring your swimwear.

What To Do

We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do in January.

Swimming

8/10

Cycling

7/10

Walking

7/10

Camping

6/10

Outdoor sports

7/10

Interested in more climate information?

Weather and Climate provides you with all the information you need about the climate in Cairns.

Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to Australia? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in Australia. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.