How often is the Cairns weather forecast updated?

We refresh current conditions and the outlook regularly through the day, so the temperature, hourly strip and rain radar reflect the latest data. The seven-day outlook is recalculated as new model runs come in.

How accurate is the seven-day forecast for Cairns?

The first three to four days are the most reliable. Accuracy tapers over the back half of the week, so treat the far end of the outlook as a guide to the trend rather than a firm promise. For plans in the next day or two, the hourly strip is the most dependable view.

What does "feels like" temperature mean?

The "feels like", or apparent, temperature blends the air temperature with humidity, wind and sunshine to estimate how the conditions actually feel on your skin. Wind and low humidity make it feel colder than the thermometer reads, while high humidity and strong sun make it feel warmer.

Where does the Cairns weather data come from?

Forecasts and current conditions are sourced from Open-Meteo, which aggregates leading national weather models. Cairns coverage is independent and not affiliated with any government weather agency.

Weather

Cairns Weather Today

Live rain radar, current conditions, an hour-by-hour outlook and a seven-day forecast for Cairns, with original writing about the city's climate from The Daily Cairns.

Today's briefing

Cairns is in for a thoroughly wet day with an 80 per cent chance of rain and a brisk 25 kilometre per hour wind, so grab your brolly before heading out. The mercury is hovering around 24 degrees now and will peak at just 24 today before dropping to 20 overnight, with a UV index of 6 keeping things fairly intense between the showers. Pack a light waterproof jacket or rain shell rather than your usual heavy gear, as the warm and humid conditions mean you'll want something breathable that you can easily stow away. Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday is shaping up nicely with a maximum of 23 degrees and only a 29 per cent chance of rain, though Sunday looks like it'll return to wetter conditions with an 80 per cent rain chance and a top of 24 degrees.

Weather

Cairns weather

24°C

Clear now, 24°C / 19°C today.

Photo by John Cronin on Pexels · credit and licence

24°C

Clear · feels like 23°C

Today: 24°C / 19°C
Humidity: 63%
Wind: 27 km/h SE
UV index: 6 · Moderate
Sunrise: 6:46 am
Sunset: 5:58 pm
Updated: 1:46 pm

Next 24 hours

Now
24°C
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2pm
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3pm
24°C
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4pm
23°C
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5pm
22°C
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6pm
21°C
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7pm
21°C
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8pm
21°C
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9pm
20°C
0%
10pm
20°C
0%
11pm
19°C
0%
12am
19°C
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1am
19°C
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2am
20°C
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3am
20°C
0%
4am
20°C
0%
5am
20°C
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6am
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7am
20°C
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12pm
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Live rain radar

Drag to pan, scroll the page over it

Animated rain radar via RainViewer (Bureau of Meteorology sources). Full Bureau of Meteorology radar loop.

Seven-day forecast

Wed
Clear
24°C 19°C
Rain 0%
Thu
Drizzle
21°C 16°C
Rain 0%
Fri
Overcast
22°C 16°C
Rain 0%
Sat
Mainly clear
23°C 16°C
Rain 0%
Sun
Mainly clear
23°C 18°C
Rain 2%
Mon
Clear
24°C 18°C
Rain 11%
Tue
Partly cloudy
22°C 19°C
Rain 24%

Air quality

Good

US AQI

PM2.5: 7
PM10: 10
Ozone: 68

Air quality by Open-Meteo (CAMS), in µg/m³.

Sun and moon

Sunrise: 6:46 am
Sunset: 5:58 pm
Daylight: 11h 12m

New moon

0% lit

From the weather desk

Cairns weather, explained

How to read the Cairns forecast

A good forecast is really three views at once. The current panel tells you what it feels like outside right now, which is what matters before you head out the door. The hourly strip is for planning the next part of your day: when the rain band arrives, when the wind picks up, when it is warm enough to walk. The seven-day outlook is for the week ahead, and it is most reliable in the first three or four days. Read it from the top down and you will almost always have what you need for Cairns.

What the UV index actually means

The UV index rates the strength of the sun's ultraviolet radiation on a simple scale. Below 3 is low and you can be outside safely without protection. From 3 to 7 is moderate to high, the point at which sunburn becomes likely within an hour, so a hat and sunscreen earn their keep. Above 8 is very high to extreme, and skin can burn in minutes around the middle of the day. The index peaks at solar noon, not at the hottest part of the afternoon, so the safest habit is to check the number rather than judge by the temperature.

Why the overnight low matters as much as the high

Daytime maximums get the headlines, but the overnight minimum shapes how the day actually feels. A cold night means a slow, crisp start and, on clear evenings, the chance of fog or frost before dawn. A mild night means the warmth carries over and the morning is comfortable from the outset. Clear skies let heat escape and push the low down; cloud cover traps it and keeps the night warmer. That is why two days with the same maximum can feel completely different depending on the night that came before.

Common questions

Cairns weather FAQ

How often is the Cairns weather forecast updated?: We refresh current conditions and the outlook regularly through the day, so the temperature, hourly strip and rain radar reflect the latest data. The seven-day outlook is recalculated as new model runs come in.
How accurate is the seven-day forecast for Cairns?: The first three to four days are the most reliable. Accuracy tapers over the back half of the week, so treat the far end of the outlook as a guide to the trend rather than a firm promise. For plans in the next day or two, the hourly strip is the most dependable view.
What does "feels like" temperature mean?: The "feels like", or apparent, temperature blends the air temperature with humidity, wind and sunshine to estimate how the conditions actually feel on your skin. Wind and low humidity make it feel colder than the thermometer reads, while high humidity and strong sun make it feel warmer.
Where does the Cairns weather data come from?: Forecasts and current conditions are sourced from Open-Meteo, which aggregates leading national weather models. Cairns coverage is independent and not affiliated with any government weather agency.

What's on this weekend in Cairns

Things to do →

Sat, 18 Jul
1,000 Dreams Fund 2026 Student Leadership Summit
Sun, 19 Jul
A Space to Soften
HMB Collective

See everything on in Cairns this weekend →

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Weather data by Open-Meteo. The Daily Cairns is independent and not affiliated with any government weather agency.

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