Cairns weather in January (Queensland, Australia)

How does the January weather in Cairns compare to other months? Here's what you need to know about the weather for the month.

Temperatures

During January, Cairns usually has 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. Temperatures gently drop to a more temperate 24°C. Note that these temperatures are average, but some days may be hotter. Dress in cool, breathable fabrics to stay comfortable in the heat.

Precipitation

Cairns in January falls under the rainy season with heavy rainfall, averaging around 252 mm for the month. Historically, the month has about 14 days of rain.

Average sunshine

Enjoy a sunny month with about 208 hours of sunshine, providing a cheerful and lively atmosphere.

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 and which places have the best travel 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 this month?

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.

Swimming

8/10

Cycling

7/10

Walking

7/10

Camping

6/10

Outdoor sports

7/10

Interested in more climate information?

This site 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 travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.