October is close to Canberra's year-round average, with average highs near 18.5°C and lows around 6°C (mean 12.3°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 67 mm of rainfall and 70% relative humidity across the period.
October is close to Canberra's year-round average. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Canberra was 2015 — when the month averaged 16°C — while the coldest was 1986 at 9.5°C. Typical October days reach 18.5°C with nights near 6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
October is about average for rainfall in Canberra, averaging 67 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2022 with 199 mm, while the driest was 2006 at 9 mm.
Relative humidity in Canberra during October averages 70%. The most humid October was 2022 at 84%, and the least humid was 2006 at 52%.
October receives about 5.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Canberra. The sunniest October was 2006 at 6.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2022 at 4.6.
Average wind speed in Canberra during October is 1.3 m/s. The windiest October was 1988 at 1.8 m/s, while the calmest were 1991 and 2011 at 1.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.2°C | 11.6°C | 12.3°C | 13.2°C | 13.2°C | +2°C |
| Avg High | 17.1°C | 17.6°C | 18.7°C | 19.9°C | 19.3°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg Low | 5.3°C | 5.6°C | 5.9°C | 6.6°C | 7.0°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 71 mm | 76 mm | 57 mm | 53 mm | 86 mm | +15 mm |
October temperatures in Canberra have risen by about 1.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -2°C (1989) to a record high of 30.2°C (2019).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 67 mm, with a wettest year of 199 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.8°C per decade while lows rose 0.5°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Canberra
October is a good time to visit Canberra, with days averaging 18.5°C and nights around 6°C (mean 12.3°C, close to Canberra's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. January and February are marginally more temperate, but October still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21.0°C | 14.0°C | 7.0°C | 29.6°C | 1.7°C | 26 mm | 59% | 1.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2024 | 21.4°C | 14.3°C | 7.1°C | 27.9°C | 1.0°C | 21 mm | 63% | 1.2 m/s | 6 |
| 2023 | 21.4°C | 14.1°C | 6.8°C | 28.5°C | 1.6°C | 38 mm | 57% | 1.5 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2022 🌧️ | 16.4°C | 11.9°C | 7.5°C | 20.0°C | 1.9°C | 199 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2021 | 17.2°C | 11.5°C | 5.7°C | 23.6°C | 2.3°C | 92 mm | 74% | 1.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2020 | 18.5°C | 13.2°C | 7.8°C | 23.8°C | 2.4°C | 142 mm | 77% | 1.3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2019 | 22.0°C | 14.4°C | 6.8°C | 30.2°C | 1.5°C | 27 mm | 57% | 1.3 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2018 | 21.2°C | 14.5°C | 7.8°C | 29.7°C | 4.2°C | 43 mm | 65% | 1.3 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2017 | 22.0°C | 14.5°C | 7.0°C | 27.2°C | 1.4°C | 57 mm | 64% | 1.2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2016 | 17.0°C | 10.8°C | 4.6°C | 22.3°C | -0.2°C | 40 mm | 69% | 1.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2015 🔥 | 22.7°C | 16.0°C | 9.3°C | 27.9°C | 3.9°C | 28 mm | 68% | 1.2 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2014 | 20.6°C | 13.9°C | 7.2°C | 27.5°C | 1.2°C | 60 mm | 67% | 1.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2013 | 19.1°C | 11.9°C | 4.6°C | 27.1°C | -0.2°C | 28 mm | 62% | 1.5 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2012 | 18.2°C | 11.6°C | 5.1°C | 25.6°C | 1.1°C | 78 mm | 69% | 1.2 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2011 | 18.3°C | 12.3°C | 6.3°C | 25.4°C | 0.5°C | 53 mm | 73% | 1.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2010 | 17.5°C | 12.4°C | 7.3°C | 21.6°C | 2.3°C | 116 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2009 | 17.0°C | 11.5°C | 6.0°C | 26.5°C | 1.4°C | 75 mm | 75% | 1.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2008 | 21.5°C | 14.2°C | 6.8°C | 28.0°C | 0.8°C | 38 mm | 60% | 1.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2007 | 20.5°C | 13.6°C | 6.7°C | 28.2°C | 1.0°C | 28 mm | 59% | 1.4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2006 | 22.5°C | 14.3°C | 6.1°C | 29.7°C | -1.1°C | 9 mm | 52% | 1.3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2005 | 18.3°C | 12.6°C | 6.9°C | 23.6°C | 2.3°C | 96 mm | 76% | 1.3 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2004 | 18.2°C | 12.2°C | 6.3°C | 27.6°C | 0.8°C | 91 mm | 71% | 1.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2003 | 16.0°C | 10.1°C | 4.1°C | 21.8°C | -1.1°C | 82 mm | 75% | 1.3 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2002 | 20.1°C | 12.8°C | 5.5°C | 27.7°C | 1.6°C | 14 mm | 56% | 1.5 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2001 | 16.5°C | 10.6°C | 4.7°C | 24.5°C | -0.7°C | 65 mm | 71% | 1.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 16.8°C | 11.2°C | 5.6°C | 24.2°C | 0.4°C | 74 mm | 75% | 1.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1999 | 17.8°C | 12.7°C | 7.6°C | 24.1°C | 3.0°C | 139 mm | 79% | 1.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1998 | 15.9°C | 10.3°C | 4.6°C | 22.7°C | -0.6°C | 64 mm | 76% | 1.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1997 | 18.7°C | 12.2°C | 5.7°C | 27.7°C | -0.6°C | 40 mm | 66% | 1.4 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1996 | 18.2°C | 12.1°C | 6.1°C | 23.2°C | -0.8°C | 60 mm | 75% | 1.3 m/s | 6 |
| 1995 | 17.6°C | 11.8°C | 6.0°C | 23.2°C | 1.6°C | 100 mm | 74% | 1.3 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1994 | 18.7°C | 11.6°C | 4.6°C | 27.0°C | -0.5°C | 81 mm | 64% | 1.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1993 | 16.8°C | 10.8°C | 4.9°C | 20.9°C | -1.9°C | 86 mm | 75% | 1.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1992 | 16.5°C | 11.1°C | 5.8°C | 20.6°C | -0.6°C | 105 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1991 | 19.0°C | 12.3°C | 5.7°C | 22.7°C | 0.6°C | 22 mm | 73% | 1.1 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1990 | 17.0°C | 11.1°C | 5.2°C | 25.9°C | -0.4°C | 59 mm | 78% | 1.3 m/s | 6 |
| 1989 | 15.9°C | 10.1°C | 4.2°C | 20.6°C | -2.0°C | 54 mm | 73% | 1.5 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1988 | 17.7°C | 11.6°C | 5.5°C | 24.3°C | 1.8°C | 28 mm | 67% | 1.8 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1987 | 17.0°C | 10.9°C | 4.8°C | 26.5°C | -1.6°C | 59 mm | 73% | 1.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1986 ❄️ | 15.0°C | 9.5°C | 4.0°C | 20.7°C | 0.4°C | 96 mm | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1985 | 16.5°C | 11.4°C | 6.2°C | 21.4°C | 0.7°C | 124 mm | 79% | 1.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1984 | 16.6°C | 10.9°C | 5.2°C | 22.5°C | -1.4°C | 52 mm | 76% | 1.2 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1983 | 16.5°C | 11.6°C | 6.6°C | 24.1°C | -1.1°C | 144 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.1°C | 12.2°C | 4.4°C | 28.4°C | -1.6°C | 21 mm | 58% | 1.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 18.5°C | 12.5°C | 6.4°C | 24.4°C | 0.4°C | 63 mm | 73% | 1.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 18.5°C with lows near 6°C (mean 12.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 67 mm of rainfall in Canberra, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 199 mm in 2022.
The hottest October reached 30.2°C in 2019. The coldest dipped to -2°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 1.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 17.6°C to 19.5°C and overnight lows from 5.8°C to 6.8°C over the same span.
October is close to Canberra's year-round average and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 18.5°C daytime highs and 6°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 6th coolest month in Canberra, averaging 12.3°C.
For October in Canberra, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 18.5°C and lows of 6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 70% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in October is 1.3 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 1.8 m/s (1988).
The wettest October on record was 2022 with 199 mm. On average, October sees 67 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 October, 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 October specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
