Melbourne features a temperate oceanic climate known for its variability – locals often say you can experience four seasons in one day. Summers are warm and dry, winters are cool and damp, and springs and autumns are mild but unpredictable. Rainfall is spread throughout the year, and the city is Australia’s cloudiest capital, with frequent weather changes.
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.
Melbourne’s climate is shaped by its position between the hot inland of Australia and the cool Southern Ocean, resulting in rapid shifts in weather and temperature. Summers (December–February) are warm to hot, with average highs of 25–27°C and lows around 14–16°C. Heatwaves can push temperatures above 40°C, but cool changes and sea breezes often bring relief. Summer is the driest season, with occasional thunderstorms and long daylight hours – up to 14.5 hours in January. Evenings are generally pleasant, and the beaches and outdoor festivals are at their best.
Autumn (March–May) is mild and comfortable, with temperatures from 11–23°C. The city’s parks burst with autumn colours, and rainfall increases slightly, especially in April and May. Winter (June–August) is cool and damp, with highs of 13–15°C and lows around 6–7°C. Rain is frequent but usually light, and the city is often cloudy, with only 2–4 hours of sunshine per day. Snow is rare in Melbourne itself but common in the nearby Victorian Alps. Spring (September–November) is the most unpredictable season, with temperatures from 10–22°C, frequent rain showers, and sudden changes from sunshine to cold winds or storms. October is typically the wettest month, and winds are often brisk. Across the year, Melbourne receives about 600–650 mm of rain, spread over 90–140 days, and enjoys around 2,400 hours of sunshine. The sea temperature peaks at 18–19°C in late summer, making beach swimming most comfortable from January to March.
| Average climate data for Melbourne, Australia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 26 | 25 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 26 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 7 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 36 | 36 | 34 | 34 | 42 | 40 | 35 | 45 | 39 | 36 | 44 | 45 | 466 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 9 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 163 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 63 | 67 | 66 | 72 | 77 | 80 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 69 | 69 | 64 | 71 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 31 | 33 | 35 | 41 | 48 | 46 | 49 | 48 | 44 | 41 | 40 | 32 | 41 |
| Average UV index | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
The best time to visit Melbourne is during autumn (March–May) and spring (September–November), when temperatures are mild (15–25°C), the city’s parks are at their most colourful, and rainfall is moderate. These shoulder seasons offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and enjoying Melbourne’s vibrant festivals and cultural events.
The least favourable time to visit is winter (June–August), when Melbourne is coldest (6–15°C), rain and clouds are frequent, and daylight hours are shortest. While the city’s indoor attractions and winter festivals remain lively, outdoor exploration can be less appealing due to damp, chilly, and unpredictable weather.
Melbourne has a temperate oceanic climate with warm, dry summers, cool, damp winters, and mild but unpredictable springs and autumns. Weather changes quickly, and rainfall is spread throughout the year.
Summer temperatures in Melbourne typically reach 25–27°C, but heatwaves can push highs above 40°C. Evenings are usually pleasant, and cool changes can bring sudden drops in temperature.
Snow is extremely rare in Melbourne itself, but the nearby Victorian Alps receive regular snowfall in winter, making them popular for skiing and snow sports.
Rain falls year-round, but October and November (spring) are typically the wettest months. Rain is usually light and falls as showers or drizzle, rather than heavy downpours.
Melbourne averages about 2,400 hours of sunshine annually. Summer has the longest days and most sun, while winter is cloudiest, with only 2–4 hours of sunshine per day.
Pack layers, a waterproof jacket, and water-resistant shoes. Even in summer, bring a jumper or light jacket for cool changes. An umbrella is essential for sudden showers in any season.
Melbourne is often windy, especially in spring and summer. Humidity is moderate, but can feel higher during heatwaves or after rain. Winds and weather can change rapidly, so be prepared for all conditions.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is January (25.8 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is July (12.4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 19 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is February (14.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is August (6.7 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 10.4 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is February (18.8 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is September (14.7 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 16.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (45.4 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (33.8 mm). Over the whole year there are 466.2 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (16.9 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (9.5 days). Over the whole year there are 163.5 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is June (79.8 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is January (63.3 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 71.3 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is August (14 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is April (10.7 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 11.9 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is July (49.1 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is January (30.8 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 40.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is December (Average daylight: 14.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is June (Average daylight: 9.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 9.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 6 h). Over the whole year there are 7.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are January, February, March, October, November and December (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are May, June, July, August and September (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.1.
