Cairns weather in December
Cairns in December averages 25°C (78°F) and 128 mm of rain.
Of the twelve months in Cairns, December is the warmest and the fourth wettest.
- Average temp
- 25°C (78°F)
20–31°C · 68–88°F
- Rainfall
- 128 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
What is Cairns like in December?
Daytime
Days are warm, typically in the mid-20s°C or above.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What should I pack for Cairns in December?
High-factor sun cream
With daytime highs around 31°C, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
Loose cotton or linen
Synthetics stop working once you are sweating through them all day.
A refillable water bottle
Daily highs this warm need roughly double the water a temperate day does.
A light rain jacket
About 128 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A layer for the evening
The day swings about 11°C between its low and its high.
December compared with November and January
December in Cairns is 1°C warmer than November and 69 mm wetter than it, which averages 24°C (76°F).
December in Cairns is about the same temperature as January and 99 mm drier than it, which averages 25°C (77°F).
Daylight in Cairns in December
On 15 December the sun is up for 13 hours 8 minutes in Cairns, rising about 05:38 and setting about 18:46 local time.
No month in Cairns has more daylight than December.
Where to stay in Cairns
Dates are a starting point for December.
Travel guides for Cairns
What to read before you book.
Cairns weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How December compares with the rest of the year
December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 25°C / 77°F | 227 mm |
| February | 25°C / 77°F | 278 mm |
| March | 24°C / 75°F | 172 mm |
| April | 22°C / 72°F | 32 mm |
| May | 21°C / 69°F | 21 mm |
| June | 19°C / 66°F | 12 mm |
| July | 18°C / 65°F | 14 mm |
| August | 19°C / 66°F | 12 mm |
| September | 21°C / 70°F | 9 mm |
| October | 23°C / 74°F | 25 mm |
| November | 24°C / 76°F | 59 mm |
| December | 25°C / 78°F | 128 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Cairns in December
December climate averages for Cairns, 1991–2020.
Cairns averages 25°C (78°F) in December, ranging from about 20°C (68°F) at night to 31°C (88°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 128 mm falls across December, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
They are about the same. December averages 25°C (78°F) and January 25°C (77°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.
December is 1°C warmer than November, and 69 mm wetter.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; December sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what December is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 13 hours 8 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the most of any month in Cairns.
On 15 December, sunrise is about 05:38 and sunset about 18:46 local time. Both shift across the month.
