February is one of the warmer months of the year in Cairns, with average highs near 27.7°C and lows around 22.5°C (mean 25.1°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 390 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
February is one of the warmer months of the year in Cairns. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Februarys in Cairns were 1990 and 2016 — when the month averaged 27°C — while the coldest was 1984 at 24.1°C. Typical February days reach 27.7°C with nights near 22.5°C. The long-term February temperature trend is broadly flat.
February is a relatively wet time of year in Cairns, averaging 390 mm of rainfall. The wettest February on record was 2000 with 987 mm, while the driest was 1990 at 66 mm.
Relative humidity in Cairns during February averages 88%. The most humid February was 2000 at 92%, and the least humid was 1990 at 71%.
February receives about 5.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Cairns. The sunniest February was 1990 at 7.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2001 at 4.3.
Average wind speed in Cairns during February is 1.5 m/s. The windiest February was 2001 at 1.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2020 at 1.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 24.8°C | 25.1°C | 25.1°C | 25.1°C | 25.5°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg High | 27.5°C | 27.7°C | 27.5°C | 27.8°C | 28.0°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Low | 22.1°C | 22.5°C | 22.8°C | 22.4°C | 23.1°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 345 mm | 439 mm | 514 mm | 340 mm | 257 mm | -88 mm |
February temperatures in Cairns have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
February has ranged from a record low of 18.9°C (2007) to a record high of 36.1°C (1990).
Rainfall in February is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 390 mm, with a wettest year of 987 mm.
A quieter season to visit Cairns
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Cairns. That said, February — with days averaging 27.7°C and nights around 22.5°C (mean 25.1°C) and higher rainfall (390 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the warmth, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27.8°C | 25.7°C | 23.6°C | 31.2°C | 21.2°C | 313 mm | 90% | 1.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2024 | 28.0°C | 25.8°C | 23.6°C | 30.7°C | 22.2°C | 239 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2023 | 26.9°C | 24.7°C | 22.5°C | 29.0°C | 20.4°C | 366 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2022 | 28.2°C | 25.4°C | 22.6°C | 31.2°C | 20.8°C | 126 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2021 | 27.1°C | 24.8°C | 22.6°C | 29.6°C | 21.2°C | 270 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2020 | 30.0°C | 26.8°C | 23.5°C | 35.0°C | 21.5°C | 226 mm | 83% | 1.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2019 | 28.3°C | 25.3°C | 22.3°C | 31.2°C | 19.1°C | 213 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2018 | 28.2°C | 25.0°C | 21.9°C | 31.6°C | 19.1°C | 243 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2017 | 27.6°C | 25.2°C | 22.9°C | 30.7°C | 21.4°C | 317 mm | 88% | 1.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2016 | 30.7°C | 27.0°C | 23.2°C | 35.1°C | 21.1°C | 103 mm | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2015 | 27.9°C | 25.1°C | 22.2°C | 31.7°C | 19.0°C | 397 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2014 | 26.6°C | 24.3°C | 22.0°C | 29.9°C | 19.9°C | 484 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 5 |
| 2013 | 28.0°C | 25.2°C | 22.4°C | 30.3°C | 20.4°C | 166 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2012 | 27.2°C | 24.7°C | 22.2°C | 30.2°C | 20.2°C | 317 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2011 | 26.3°C | 24.2°C | 22.2°C | 28.5°C | 21.3°C | 790 mm | 91% | 1.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2010 | 27.6°C | 25.2°C | 22.9°C | 29.9°C | 21.1°C | 368 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2009 | 27.3°C | 25.1°C | 22.9°C | 29.7°C | 20.5°C | 669 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2008 | 27.2°C | 25.1°C | 23.0°C | 29.0°C | 19.9°C | 533 mm | 91% | 1.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2007 | 26.7°C | 24.6°C | 22.4°C | 30.5°C | 18.9°C | 759 mm | 91% | 1.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2006 | 27.4°C | 24.8°C | 22.3°C | 29.9°C | 21.4°C | 259 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2005 | 28.0°C | 25.2°C | 22.4°C | 30.2°C | 20.3°C | 151 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2004 | 27.8°C | 25.6°C | 23.5°C | 30.2°C | 22.4°C | 593 mm | 91% | 1.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2003 | 28.4°C | 25.5°C | 22.7°C | 31.0°C | 20.9°C | 219 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2002 | 29.4°C | 26.5°C | 23.6°C | 33.5°C | 21.6°C | 275 mm | 85% | 1.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2001 | 26.2°C | 24.2°C | 22.3°C | 30.0°C | 20.1°C | 698 mm | 92% | 1.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2000 🌧️ | 26.6°C | 24.7°C | 22.7°C | 28.7°C | 21.7°C | 987 mm | 92% | 1.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1999 | 27.3°C | 25.1°C | 22.9°C | 29.6°C | 20.7°C | 720 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1998 | 27.6°C | 25.4°C | 23.1°C | 28.8°C | 21.7°C | 325 mm | 89% | 1.5 m/s | 6 |
| 1997 | 26.7°C | 24.6°C | 22.5°C | 28.7°C | 20.6°C | 371 mm | 91% | 1.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1996 | 26.8°C | 24.2°C | 21.6°C | 29.0°C | 19.3°C | 311 mm | 88% | 1.6 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1995 | 28.2°C | 25.6°C | 23.0°C | 33.0°C | 21.9°C | 699 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1994 | 27.2°C | 24.9°C | 22.6°C | 29.4°C | 20.3°C | 579 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1993 | 26.6°C | 24.2°C | 21.8°C | 29.4°C | 20.4°C | 276 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1992 | 28.4°C | 25.6°C | 22.7°C | 30.9°C | 21.0°C | 310 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1991 | 26.7°C | 24.8°C | 22.8°C | 28.9°C | 20.8°C | 729 mm | 92% | 1.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1990 🔥 | 31.9°C | 27.0°C | 22.0°C | 36.1°C | 19.1°C | 66 mm | 71% | 1.5 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1989 | 27.2°C | 24.6°C | 21.9°C | 30.0°C | 20.1°C | 208 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1988 | 28.2°C | 25.3°C | 22.4°C | 30.8°C | 19.9°C | 277 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 6 |
| 1987 | 26.9°C | 24.5°C | 22.1°C | 28.1°C | 21.1°C | 459 mm | 89% | 1.7 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1986 | 27.5°C | 24.6°C | 21.7°C | 29.4°C | 19.9°C | 248 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1985 | 26.9°C | 24.6°C | 22.4°C | 30.0°C | 21.1°C | 492 mm | 91% | 1.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 26.1°C | 24.1°C | 22.0°C | 27.7°C | 20.7°C | 632 mm | 92% | 1.6 m/s | 5 |
| 1983 | 29.8°C | 25.7°C | 21.7°C | 34.1°C | 20.1°C | 71 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 27.5°C | 24.8°C | 22.1°C | 29.5°C | 20.0°C | 199 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 27.6°C | 25.2°C | 22.9°C | 29.6°C | 21.3°C | 516 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded February data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in February is around 27.7°C with lows near 22.5°C (mean 25.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
February averages 390 mm of rainfall in Cairns, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 987 mm in 2000.
The hottest February reached 36.1°C in 1990. The coldest dipped to 18.9°C in 2007.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average February temperatures have risen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 27.6°C to 27.6°C and overnight lows from 22.2°C to 23°C over the same span.
February is one of the warmer months of the year in Cairns and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 27.7°C daytime highs and 22.5°C at night.
Not quite — February is the 9th coolest month in Cairns, averaging 25.1°C.
For February in Cairns, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 27.7°C and lows of 22.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in February averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in February is 1.5 m/s. The windiest February on record averaged 1.9 m/s (2001).
The wettest February on record was 2000 with 987 mm. On average, February sees 390 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 February, 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 February specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
