Canberra features a temperate climate with four distinct seasons – hot, dry summers and cold, crisp winters. The city enjoys abundant sunshine, moderate rainfall, and dramatic temperature swings between day and night. Spring and autumn bring vibrant colour and mild weather, making Canberra a dynamic destination for outdoor activities and cultural festivals all year round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Canberra’s climate is shaped by its inland location and elevation (about 570 m), resulting in pronounced seasonal contrasts. Summers (December–February) are warm to hot and relatively dry, with average highs of 27–29°C and lows around 12–14°C. Heatwaves can push temperatures above 35°C, but humidity remains low (30–40%), and balmy nights are common. Most summer rain falls as brief, intense thunderstorms, and UV levels are high, so sun protection is essential. The city enjoys up to 8 hours of sunshine daily in summer, making it ideal for swimming, outdoor events, and exploring the city’s parks and lakes.
Winters (June–August) are cold and crisp, with average highs of 11–13°C and lows often dropping below 0°C. Frosty mornings and occasional fog are typical, and snow is rare in the city but common in the nearby Brindabella Ranges. Winter days are usually clear and sunny, with minimal rainfall (40–46 mm/month), and humidity is higher (60–70%). Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) are transitional, with mild days (16–22°C), cool nights, and moderate rainfall. These seasons are renowned for their colourful displays – spring’s blooming flowers and autumn’s vivid foliage. Canberra receives about 580–600 mm of rain annually, with November being the wettest month. Winds are generally light to moderate, with southerly winds in winter and northwesterly breezes in summer. The city enjoys around 270 sunny days per year and 7 hours of sunshine daily on average.
| Average climate data for Canberra, Australia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 28 | 26 | 23 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 29 | 37 | 32 | 27 | 20 | 30 | 24 | 36 | 33 | 36 | 43 | 45 | 391 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 129 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 64 | 69 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 78 | 73 | 72 | 66 | 75 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 30 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 36 | 46 | 41 | 40 | 38 | 39 | 36 | 34 | 38 |
| Average UV index | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
The best time to visit Canberra is during spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May), when temperatures are mild (16–22°C), rainfall is moderate, and the city is vibrant with festivals, blooming gardens, and colourful foliage. These seasons offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, outdoor events, and exploring Canberra’s natural beauty with fewer crowds and comfortable weather.
The least favourable time to visit is in winter (June–August), when Canberra is coldest, nights often drop below freezing, and mornings are frosty or foggy. While winter offers clear skies and access to nearby ski fields, outdoor activities in the city can be limited by chilly, damp, and unpredictable weather.
Canberra has a temperate climate with hot, dry summers and cold, crisp winters. Spring and autumn are mild and colourful, with moderate rainfall and dramatic changes in daylight and temperature.
Summer temperatures in Canberra typically reach 27–29°C, with occasional heatwaves above 35°C. Nights are balmy, humidity is low, and UV levels are high, so sun protection is essential.
Snow is rare in Canberra itself, occurring about once every 15 years, but is common in the nearby Brindabella Ranges. Frost and fog are frequent in winter, with temperatures often dropping below 0°C at night.
Rain falls year-round, but November is usually the wettest month. Summer sees brief thunderstorms, while winter and spring have lighter, more regular showers. Annual rainfall averages 580–600 mm.
Canberra enjoys about 270 sunny days and 7 hours of sunshine daily on average. Summer and autumn are the sunniest seasons, while winter days are crisp and clear despite the cold.
Pack light, sun-protective clothing for summer. In winter, bring warm layers, a beanie, gloves, and sturdy shoes. A compact umbrella and layers are useful year-round, as weather can change quickly.
Canberra has low humidity in summer (30–40%) and higher humidity in winter (60–70%). Winds are generally light to moderate, with southerly winds in winter and northwesterly breezes in summer.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is January (28.1 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is July (10.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 18.6 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is January (14.1 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is July (1.4 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 7.1 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (44.9 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is May (20 mm). Over the whole year there are 391.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is October (13.8 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is May (7.6 days). Over the whole year there are 129.4 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is September (10.9 mm). The months with the least snowfall are January, February, March, April, May, November and December (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 19.9 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is August (1.1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are March and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 2.4 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is June (84.3 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is January (63.8 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 75 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is August (10.6 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is April (8.1 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 9 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is June (46 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is January (29.6 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 38 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is December (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is June (Average daylight: 9.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 6 h). Over the whole year there are 8.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 6). The month with the lowest average UV index is June (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.
