August is one of the cooler months of the year in Canberra, with average highs near 11.7°C and lows around 1.6°C (mean 6.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 59 mm of rainfall and 80% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Canberra. Across 45 years of records, the warmest August in Canberra was 2024 — when the month averaged 9.7°C — while the coldest were 1989, 1990 and 1991 at 4.9°C. Typical August days reach 11.7°C with nights near 1.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
August is about average for rainfall in Canberra, averaging 59 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 1998 with 179 mm, while the driest was 2019 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in Canberra during August averages 80%. The most humid August was 1998 at 88%, and the least humid was 1982 at 66%.
August receives about 3.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Canberra. The sunniest August was 1995 at 4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1998 at 3.1.
Average wind speed in Canberra during August is 1.3 m/s. The windiest August was 1991 at 1.9 m/s, while the calmest were 2006, 2011 and 2023, among others at 1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 6.3°C | 6.2°C | 6.8°C | 6.6°C | 7.9°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg High | 11.1°C | 11.1°C | 12.1°C | 11.7°C | 12.8°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg Low | 1.6°C | 1.2°C | 1.5°C | 1.5°C | 2.9°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 68 mm | 73 mm | 54 mm | 51 mm | 44 mm | -24 mm |
August temperatures in Canberra have risen by about 1.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of -4.5°C (2015) to a record high of 21.2°C (1982).
Rainfall in August is about average for rainfall, averaging 59 mm, with a wettest year of 179 mm.
A quieter season to visit Canberra
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of January and February tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Canberra. That said, August — with days averaging 11.7°C and nights around 1.6°C (mean 6.7°C) and moderate rainfall (59 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.9°C | 7.5°C | 3.1°C | 18.4°C | -1.9°C | 43 mm | 84% | 1.3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2024 🔥 | 14.8°C | 9.7°C | 4.5°C | 19.8°C | -1.1°C | 13 mm | 76% | 1.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2023 | 14.7°C | 9.2°C | 3.7°C | 19.1°C | 1.0°C | 18 mm | 78% | 1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2022 | 11.8°C | 7.3°C | 2.7°C | 15.2°C | -2.1°C | 59 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2021 | 12.6°C | 7.4°C | 2.1°C | 17.8°C | -0.6°C | 48 mm | 81% | 1.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2020 | 11.1°C | 6.3°C | 1.4°C | 16.7°C | -2.5°C | 84 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2019 | 12.7°C | 6.9°C | 1.0°C | 18.3°C | -3.6°C | 12 mm | 70% | 1.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2018 | 12.1°C | 6.5°C | 1.0°C | 17.2°C | -4.0°C | 25 mm | 71% | 1.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2017 | 11.9°C | 6.3°C | 0.7°C | 17.3°C | -3.0°C | 22 mm | 73% | 1.4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2016 | 12.1°C | 6.9°C | 1.8°C | 16.2°C | -1.8°C | 22 mm | 80% | 1.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2015 | 11.0°C | 6.1°C | 1.3°C | 16.8°C | -4.5°C | 81 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2014 | 11.8°C | 6.9°C | 1.9°C | 16.4°C | -3.4°C | 95 mm | 82% | 1.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2013 | 11.8°C | 6.9°C | 2.1°C | 17.0°C | -1.6°C | 44 mm | 80% | 1.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2012 | 10.5°C | 5.6°C | 0.7°C | 14.8°C | -2.3°C | 40 mm | 80% | 1.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2011 | 13.2°C | 8.4°C | 3.5°C | 17.9°C | -0.4°C | 85 mm | 83% | 1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2010 | 10.0°C | 5.5°C | 1.0°C | 13.6°C | -2.7°C | 87 mm | 83% | 1.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2009 | 13.3°C | 7.7°C | 2.1°C | 17.9°C | -2.2°C | 34 mm | 73% | 1.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2008 | 10.5°C | 5.5°C | 0.4°C | 15.1°C | -3.2°C | 55 mm | 79% | 1.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2007 | 12.3°C | 7.9°C | 3.5°C | 18.8°C | -1.4°C | 29 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2006 | 13.4°C | 7.3°C | 1.1°C | 19.2°C | -1.7°C | 21 mm | 74% | 1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2005 | 12.6°C | 6.7°C | 0.8°C | 17.7°C | -2.9°C | 39 mm | 77% | 1.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2004 | 12.2°C | 7.0°C | 1.8°C | 18.5°C | -1.5°C | 65 mm | 78% | 1.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2003 | 11.5°C | 6.2°C | 0.9°C | 15.3°C | -3.5°C | 86 mm | 79% | 1.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2002 | 13.0°C | 7.0°C | 1.0°C | 17.4°C | -3.7°C | 29 mm | 74% | 1.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2001 | 11.0°C | 6.4°C | 1.7°C | 16.3°C | -2.7°C | 109 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2000 | 10.7°C | 6.2°C | 1.8°C | 14.8°C | -2.4°C | 74 mm | 83% | 1.2 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1999 | 12.7°C | 7.3°C | 1.9°C | 18.8°C | -2.6°C | 57 mm | 80% | 1.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1998 🌧️ | 11.5°C | 7.5°C | 3.4°C | 16.7°C | -1.4°C | 179 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1997 | 11.0°C | 5.8°C | 0.5°C | 15.4°C | -3.5°C | 39 mm | 79% | 1.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1996 | 10.5°C | 5.9°C | 1.4°C | 14.4°C | -2.8°C | 86 mm | 82% | 1.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1995 | 13.7°C | 7.8°C | 1.9°C | 19.1°C | -3.9°C | 15 mm | 78% | 1.3 m/s | 4 |
| 1994 | 11.2°C | 5.5°C | -0.3°C | 18.4°C | -3.2°C | 12 mm | 73% | 1.2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1993 | 12.2°C | 7.1°C | 2.0°C | 16.3°C | -2.7°C | 34 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1992 | 10.2°C | 5.2°C | 0.1°C | 13.9°C | -2.7°C | 93 mm | 82% | 1.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1991 | 9.4°C | 4.9°C | 0.5°C | 14.7°C | -3.2°C | 84 mm | 83% | 1.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1990 | 8.9°C | 4.9°C | 1.0°C | 13.9°C | -2.6°C | 129 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 9.1°C | 4.9°C | 0.7°C | 12.7°C | -2.4°C | 50 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1988 | 11.5°C | 6.6°C | 1.7°C | 16.7°C | -2.5°C | 48 mm | 84% | 1.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1987 | 11.5°C | 7.1°C | 2.6°C | 14.6°C | -0.9°C | 71 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1986 | 10.6°C | 6.0°C | 1.5°C | 15.2°C | -2.2°C | 96 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1985 | 10.3°C | 5.8°C | 1.3°C | 14.6°C | -2.6°C | 98 mm | 84% | 1.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1984 | 10.4°C | 5.8°C | 1.3°C | 14.1°C | -2.2°C | 82 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1983 | 11.6°C | 6.7°C | 1.9°C | 15.5°C | -2.5°C | 66 mm | 84% | 1.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 15.5°C | 8.9°C | 2.4°C | 21.2°C | -1.3°C | 18 mm | 66% | 1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 9.8°C | 5.2°C | 0.6°C | 13.7°C | -3.2°C | 87 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 11.7°C with lows near 1.6°C (mean 6.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 59 mm of rainfall in Canberra, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 179 mm in 1998.
The hottest August reached 21.2°C in 1982. The coldest dipped to -4.5°C in 2015.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 1.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 11.5°C to 13.2°C and overnight lows from 1.5°C to 3.2°C over the same span.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Canberra and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 11.7°C daytime highs and 1.6°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 3rd coolest month in Canberra, averaging 6.7°C.
For August in Canberra, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 11.7°C and lows of 1.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in August averages 80% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in August is 1.3 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 1.9 m/s (1991).
The wettest August on record was 1998 with 179 mm. On average, August sees 59 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Canberra behaves each August, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for August specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
