August is one of the cooler months of the year in Cairns, with average highs near 23.8°C and lows around 16°C (mean 19.9°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 44 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Cairns. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Augusts in Cairns were 2017 and 2020 — when the month averaged 21.7°C — while the coldest were 1982 and 2006 at 17.9°C. Typical August days reach 23.8°C with nights near 16°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
August is one of the drier months in Cairns, averaging 44 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 1995 with 230 mm, while the driest was 2018 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Cairns during August averages 79%. The most humid August was 1995 at 87%, and the least humid was 2020 at 69%.
August receives about 5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Cairns. The sunniest Augusts were 1990 and 2004 at 5.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1995 at 4.
Average wind speed in Cairns during August is 1.7 m/s. The windiest August was 1982 at 2.4 m/s, while the calmest was 1981 at 1.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 19.7°C | 19.3°C | 19.6°C | 20.3°C | 21.2°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg High | 23.3°C | 23.0°C | 23.4°C | 24.5°C | 25.4°C | +2.1°C |
| Avg Low | 16.0°C | 15.6°C | 15.8°C | 16.1°C | 16.9°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 47 mm | 71 mm | 39 mm | 29 mm | 25 mm | -21 mm |
August temperatures in Cairns have risen by about 1.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of 7.4°C (1990) to a record high of 32.7°C (2020).
Rainfall in August is one of the drier months, averaging 44 mm, with a wettest year of 230 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.6°C per decade while lows rose 0.2°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
One of the best times to visit Cairns
August is one of the best times to visit Cairns. Expect days averaging 23.8°C and nights around 16°C (mean 19.9°C) — cooler than Cairns's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (44 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26.0°C | 21.3°C | 16.5°C | 32.0°C | 10.8°C | 6 mm | 72% | 1.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2024 | 25.5°C | 21.4°C | 17.3°C | 28.7°C | 15.5°C | 30 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2023 | 24.1°C | 20.2°C | 16.2°C | 27.4°C | 14.0°C | 54 mm | 76% | 2.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2022 | 25.2°C | 21.1°C | 17.0°C | 30.0°C | 12.3°C | 21 mm | 77% | 1.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2021 | 25.1°C | 21.3°C | 17.5°C | 28.1°C | 13.3°C | 34 mm | 79% | 1.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2020 | 26.6°C | 21.7°C | 16.8°C | 32.7°C | 13.9°C | 8 mm | 69% | 1.7 m/s | 5 |
| 2019 | 25.1°C | 20.6°C | 16.1°C | 29.4°C | 11.7°C | 12 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2018 | 26.0°C | 21.0°C | 16.1°C | 29.4°C | 12.5°C | 0 mm | 70% | 1.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2017 🔥 | 26.1°C | 21.7°C | 17.2°C | 29.2°C | 15.6°C | 5 mm | 72% | 1.7 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2016 | 24.5°C | 20.6°C | 16.7°C | 28.9°C | 12.4°C | 30 mm | 77% | 1.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2015 | 25.1°C | 20.6°C | 16.1°C | 28.5°C | 12.2°C | 17 mm | 74% | 1.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2014 | 22.8°C | 19.2°C | 15.6°C | 25.3°C | 12.2°C | 65 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 5 |
| 2013 | 23.8°C | 19.7°C | 15.7°C | 26.8°C | 13.2°C | 14 mm | 80% | 1.5 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2012 | 22.8°C | 19.0°C | 15.1°C | 26.4°C | 8.9°C | 22 mm | 80% | 1.6 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2011 | 23.6°C | 19.4°C | 15.3°C | 27.6°C | 11.2°C | 32 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2010 | 24.8°C | 21.1°C | 17.4°C | 27.6°C | 12.0°C | 93 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2009 | 25.2°C | 20.9°C | 16.7°C | 28.7°C | 13.7°C | 12 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2008 | 23.5°C | 19.6°C | 15.6°C | 26.2°C | 12.9°C | 9 mm | 77% | 2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2007 | 22.9°C | 19.6°C | 16.4°C | 26.0°C | 12.2°C | 35 mm | 82% | 1.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2006 | 21.4°C | 17.9°C | 14.3°C | 23.6°C | 10.5°C | 20 mm | 81% | 1.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2005 | 21.6°C | 18.8°C | 15.9°C | 23.5°C | 10.3°C | 124 mm | 84% | 1.9 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2004 | 23.9°C | 19.4°C | 14.9°C | 27.3°C | 12.3°C | 4 mm | 74% | 1.5 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2003 | 23.3°C | 19.9°C | 16.4°C | 26.9°C | 11.8°C | 32 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2002 | 23.6°C | 19.8°C | 15.9°C | 27.5°C | 14.4°C | 60 mm | 79% | 1.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2001 | 24.5°C | 20.2°C | 15.9°C | 29.2°C | 13.9°C | 18 mm | 74% | 1.6 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2000 | 23.6°C | 19.7°C | 15.7°C | 29.8°C | 11.0°C | 75 mm | 79% | 1.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1999 | 21.9°C | 18.7°C | 15.5°C | 24.8°C | 11.9°C | 88 mm | 83% | 1.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1998 | 25.1°C | 21.2°C | 17.3°C | 29.5°C | 10.8°C | 117 mm | 79% | 1.6 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1997 | 22.2°C | 18.6°C | 15.1°C | 24.4°C | 11.3°C | 91 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1996 | 23.7°C | 20.0°C | 16.3°C | 28.4°C | 12.5°C | 25 mm | 80% | 1.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1995 🌧️ | 21.2°C | 18.6°C | 16.0°C | 24.8°C | 8.7°C | 230 mm | 87% | 2.3 m/s | 4 |
| 1994 | 21.2°C | 18.1°C | 15.0°C | 23.3°C | 10.6°C | 74 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1993 | 22.0°C | 18.7°C | 15.3°C | 25.2°C | 11.6°C | 49 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1992 | 24.7°C | 20.6°C | 16.4°C | 30.2°C | 12.6°C | 24 mm | 79% | 1.5 m/s | 5 |
| 1991 | 24.4°C | 20.1°C | 15.8°C | 29.3°C | 12.5°C | 16 mm | 76% | 1.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1990 | 23.2°C | 18.4°C | 13.6°C | 26.7°C | 7.4°C | 1 mm | 73% | 1.5 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1989 | 22.6°C | 18.9°C | 15.1°C | 27.8°C | 9.4°C | 12 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1988 | 23.1°C | 20.0°C | 17.0°C | 27.3°C | 13.6°C | 88 mm | 85% | 2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1987 | 22.7°C | 19.1°C | 15.5°C | 26.0°C | 12.3°C | 43 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1986 | 24.3°C | 20.4°C | 16.5°C | 27.9°C | 11.2°C | 43 mm | 80% | 1.4 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1985 | 24.1°C | 20.2°C | 16.2°C | 27.4°C | 12.2°C | 10 mm | 79% | 1.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1984 | 24.7°C | 20.4°C | 16.0°C | 28.6°C | 10.7°C | 8 mm | 76% | 1.5 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1983 | 22.1°C | 19.1°C | 16.1°C | 25.3°C | 11.5°C | 72 mm | 85% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | 20.6°C | 17.9°C | 15.1°C | 22.8°C | 11.5°C | 143 mm | 84% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 25.4°C | 20.9°C | 16.4°C | 28.2°C | 13.3°C | 3 mm | 77% | 1.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 23.8°C with lows near 16°C (mean 19.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 44 mm of rainfall in Cairns, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 230 mm in 1995.
The hottest August reached 32.7°C in 2020. The coldest dipped to 7.4°C in 1990.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 1.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 23.4°C to 25.2°C and overnight lows from 16°C to 16.9°C over the same span.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Cairns and one of the drier months, so plan for around 23.8°C daytime highs and 16°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 3rd coolest month in Cairns, averaging 19.9°C.
For August in Cairns, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 23.8°C and lows of 16°C.
Relative humidity in August averages 79% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in August is 1.7 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 2.4 m/s (1982).
The wettest August on record was 1995 with 230 mm. On average, August sees 44 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 Cairns 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.
