Average Monthly Sunshine in Cairns

The graphs on this page shows the average number of hours per month and per day that Cairns receives direct sunlight. The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Across the seasons, sunshine hours in Cairns vary. From a high of 272 hours in October, to a low of 171 hours in February, the city offers a balanced mix of sunny and overcast days. The total annual sunshine amounts to 2692 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

This means you can enjoy sunny spells year-round. October sees up to 9.1 hours of daily sunshine, perfect for a sunny trip. February, the least sunny month, still offers a generous 5.7 hours of sun despite this cloudier / rainier time of the year.

Cairns’s total hours of sunshine compared to other major cities

Cairns enjoys an average of 2692 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

In Lisbon, Portugal, there are approximately 2801 hours of sunshine annually, highlighting its warm and sunny Mediterranean climate.

In contrast, Reykjavík, Iceland, receives only about 1330 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.

The climate in San Francisco, USA, includes 3072 hours of sunshine annually, thanks to its mild coastal weather.

Adelaide, Australia, enjoys 2770 hours of sunshine annually, with long, sunny summers.

Other climate information

February, Cairns’s wettest month, receives 292 mm of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 29°C. During the driest month September you can expect a temperature of 25°C.

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Cairns Precipitation page.