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Forecast confidence: High · models disagree by 2°C

Cairns weather

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Light drizzle,rain likely tomorrow

European, the American and the German model agree on a high near 26° in Cairns today. Tomorrow looks light drizzle around 26°, with a 59% chance of rain.

26°19°
26°17°
26°16°
26°17°
26°19°
26°19°
Todaymodels agreeTomorrowmodels agreeMondaymodels agreeTuesdaymodels agreeWednesdaymodels agreeThursdaymodels agree
EuropeanECMWF
25°
Light drizzle
Today 25°·Low 18°·Rain 76%
AmericanNOAA GFS
26°
Light drizzle
Today 26°·Low 20°·Rain 26%
GermanDWD ICON
26°
Cloudy
Today 26°·Low 20°·Rain 13%
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Cairns weather in numbers

from 30 years of measured normals

Cairns swings 14°C across the year, from 31°C highs in January to 17°C lows in August, and December is usually the wettest month in a year that brings about 2395 mm of precipitation.

Warmest month
January
31°C average high
Coldest month
August
17°C average low
Wettest month
December
2395 mm a year
Below freezing
Never
overnight lows stay above 0°C
Comfortable
4 months
May, June, July and August
Residents
153,000
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The weather map: all three models at once

European, American, German side by side around Cairns and nearby towns.Live rain radar →
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Cairns hourly forecast: next 14 hours

consensus of the three models

Rain in the next 24 hours, model by model

each model's own hourly precipitation, side by side

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Cairns 10-day forecast, out to 14 days

where the models agree, and where they split
Today
Light drizzle
26° 19°
models agree
Tomorrow
Light drizzle
26° 17°
models agree
Mon
Cloudy
26° 16°
models agree
Tue
Light drizzle
26° 17°
models agree
Wed
Light drizzle
26° 19°
models agree
Thu
Light drizzle
26° 19°
models agree
Fri
Light drizzle
26° 20°
models agree
Sat
Light drizzle
27° 18°
models agree
Sun
Light drizzle
26° 19°
models agree
Mon
Light drizzle
27° 19°
models agree
Tue
Light drizzle
27° 19°
±3°
Wed
Light drizzle
26° 18°
models agree
Thu
Light drizzle
27° 19°
±4°
Fri
Light drizzle
27° 19°
±2°

Cairns, Queensland. Below we compare what European, American, German forecast for Cairns right now and flag exactly where they disagree, then break down Cairns's weather month by month and which forecast model has been most accurate here.

We grade every model against the weather that actually happened, so you can see which forecast model is most accurate in Australia before you trust any single number.

Cairns weather by month

what to expect in Cairns through the year

Here is Cairns's typical weather in each month: the average daytime high and overnight low in °C, how each month feels, and the wettest month marked. Use it to plan any trip to Cairns by season.

Jan
31°
24°
Hot
Feb
30°
24°
Hot
Mar
30°
24°
Hot
Apr
29°
23°
Hot
May
26°
20°
Warm
Jun
26°
18°
Warm
Jul
25°
18°
Warm
Aug
25°
17°
Warm
Sep
27°
19°
Warm
Oct
29°
20°
Hot
Nov
30°
21°
Hot
Dec
31°
24°
Hot
Wettest

What Cairns's weather is like through the year

Cairns runs from warm summers, with January highs near 31°C, to cool winters, when August lows sit around 17°C (a swing of about 14°C across the year). December is usually the wettest month, and Cairns sees roughly 2395 mm of precipitation annually.

Best time to visit Cairns

The most comfortable time to visit Cairns is usually May, June, July and August, when daytime highs sit in the pleasant 16-26°C range and the heaviest December rain is behind you.

Which forecast is most accurate in Cairns?

CheckWeather Score, graded against the weather that actually happened
ProviderCheckWeather-scoreTempWindRainRun by
European logo
European ★ Best
92
/100rank #1
89±0.6°C93±3.3 km/t9597% hitECMWF - European Centre for Medium-Range Weather ForecastsReading, United Kingdom
American logo
American
86
/100rank #2
74±1.5°C94±2.8 km/t9597% hitNOAA / NCEP (United States)College Park, Maryland, USA
G
German
71
/100rank #3
77±1.3°C95±2.5 km/t4771% hitDeutscher Wetterdienst (DWD)Offenbach am Main, Germany

The CheckWeather Score blends temperature, wind and rain accuracy, each measured against ERA5 (the recorded weather) over the last 30 days across 1495 cities. Lower error means a higher score. See which forecast model is most accurate in Australia, how we measure forecast accuracy, or which model each weather app uses.

Bottom line: over the last 30 days the European model has been the most accurate forecast for Cairns, scoring 92/100 on our CheckWeather Score, ahead of the American at 86. See the full AU accuracy scoreboard for exactly how every model is tested.

What do you think of the forecasts?

your vote counts

The accuracy above is the measured record. This is your opinion: which forecast service do you trust most in Australia? Give each 1 to 5 stars.

EuropeanECMWF
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AmericanNOAA GFS
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GermanDWD ICON
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One vote per service. Anonymous: we store no personal data, only a one-way hash of your connection for a day to stop double votes.

Where the models disagree

temperature and rain, judged separately
DayTemperatureRain
Today±2°25° to 26°±63%13% to 76% chance
Tomorrow±2°25° to 27°±49%10% to 59% chance
Mon±2°25° to 27°±20%0% to 20% chance
Tuemodels agree26° to 26°±27%3% to 30% chance
Wed±1°26° to 27°±66%20% to 86% chance

The models often agree on temperature and still split on rain, and rain is usually what decides whether a plan survives. A wide rain range means the shower is genuinely uncertain, not that the forecast is wrong.

Sunrise and sunset in Cairns

today, local time
Sunrise
06:09
Sunset
18:12
Daylight
12h 3m

Common questions

What's the weather in Cairns today?
On this page we show what European, American, German each forecast for Cairns today, side by side and updated live. When all three agree the forecast is reliable; when they split, we flag it so you know the day is genuinely less certain.
Will it rain in Cairns today or tomorrow?
Check the hourly strip and 7-day forecast above. We compare rain from European, American, German for Cairns and flag the days where the models disagree on whether showers actually arrive, which is exactly when a single app can catch you out.
Which forecast is most accurate for Cairns?
Over the last 30 days, the European model has been the most accurate for Cairns (CheckWeather Score 92/100), ahead of the American at 86. We grade every model against the recorded weather. See the AU accuracy scoreboard for the full method.
What is the warmest month in Cairns?
January is typically the warmest month in Cairns, with average highs around 31°C.
How cold does Cairns get?
The coldest month in Cairns is August, when overnight lows average about 17°C.
How much rain does Cairns get?
Cairns sees roughly 2395 mm of precipitation a year, with December usually the wettest month.
When is the best time to visit Cairns?
The most comfortable time to visit Cairns is usually May, June, July and August, when daytime highs sit in the pleasant 16-26°C range and the heaviest December rain is behind you.
Does it snow in Cairns?
Rarely - Cairns very seldom sees overnight lows drop below freezing, so lasting snow is unusual.

Nearby

More AU weather