Monthly climate guide
Cairns weather in January
Expect hot weather in Cairns in January: afternoons reach about 29°C (84°F), while nights drop to around 23°C (73°F). Around 326 mm of rain falls over the month (very wet), and skies are often cloudy. Daytime highs are 2°C cooler than December and about the same as February.
What stands out in January
- This is rainy-season territory in Cairns: short, heavy downpours are typical.
- Only 2 months are warmer in Cairns than January.
- Rain is above Cairns's usual level, by about 137%.
- Humidity near 84% makes 29°C feel stickier than it sounds.
Avg high
29°C
84°F
Avg low
23°C
73°F
Rainfall
326 mm
very wet
Humidity
84%
relative
Sky
67%
cloud · often cloudy
Cairns weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 326 mm | 84% | 67% |
| February | 28°C / 83°F | 23°C / 73°F | 327 mm | 86% | 63% |
| March | 27°C / 80°F | 22°C / 72°F | 359 mm | 89% | 72% |
| April | 26°C / 79°F | 20°C / 69°F | 138 mm | 86% | 52% |
| May | 24°C / 76°F | 19°C / 65°F | 104 mm | 84% | 47% |
| June | 23°C / 74°F | 17°C / 62°F | 55 mm | 83% | 46% |
| July | 23°C / 74°F | 16°C / 61°F | 41 mm | 81% | 40% |
| August | 25°C / 76°F | 16°C / 61°F | 20 mm | 75% | 33% |
| September | 27°C / 80°F | 18°C / 64°F | 22 mm | 73% | 30% |
| October | 29°C / 83°F | 19°C / 67°F | 59 mm | 72% | 32% |
| November | 30°C / 86°F | 21°C / 70°F | 57 mm | 73% | 39% |
| December | 30°C / 87°F | 22°C / 72°F | 144 mm | 76% | 52% |
What to pack for January
- Light, breathable clothing (cotton or linen)
- A sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen
- A refillable water bottle
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
- Quick-dry fabrics — it feels stickier than the temperature suggests
Is January a good time to visit Cairns?
Compare the months in the chart above to find your ideal window.
Best time to visit Cairns →Other Australia cities in January
Cite or embed this data
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Cairns weather in January. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/australia/cairns/january
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/australia/cairns/january">Cairns weather in January</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/australia/cairns" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Cairns weather in January"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/australia/cairns/january">Cairns weather in January</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Cairns in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Cairns?
January is one of the wetter months in Cairns, with about 326 mm of rain. You can still go: pack a rain jacket and keep plans flexible.
How warm is Cairns in January?
Average highs are about 29°C (84°F) and average lows about 23°C (73°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Cairns in January?
Cairns typically gets around 326 mm of rain in January — very wet.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Cairns (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.