Canberra is located in south-eastern Australia and has an oceanic climate on the border between subtropical and temperate zones.

However, because the city is more than 200 km from the nearest sea, the oceanic climate mixes with the land climate, resulting in a more pronounced difference between summer and winter than, say, Sydney.

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Weather in Canberra

The capital city of Australia is known for its pleasant climate and the changing of the 4 seasons.

When is summer and winter in Melbourne?

As Australia is in the southern hemisphere, summer here runs between December and February with average temperatures around 28°C.

The coolest months are July and August, when winter peaks with temperatures around 12°C (54°F) common.

When does it rain the most in Canberra?

Rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year and rainfall is similar in all seasons.

Canberra is a sunny city and it rains relatively little, but enough to keep the city from drying out and to keep the parks beautifully green.

The rainiest days are in the summer (December to February), but these are usually just short thunderstorms.

Does it snow and freeze in Canberra?

Canberra is located in the foothills, so frost and snow can occur on rare occasions in July or August.

Generally, however, snow is rare in the city centre and you'll need to head further south to the Australian Alps for a true winter.

What is the humidity like?

South Australia has an extremely pleasant climate with relatively low humidity levels, so being outdoors is pleasant even on hot summer days.

Normal humidity in summer (December to February) is around 37% while in winter it is around 58%.

Is there a risk of tropical storms in Canebra?

No. Canberra is too far south and away from the coast, so typhoons or tropical storms do not occur here.

Weather and temperatures throughout the year

This is what the weather in Canberra looks like specifically for each month of the year.

Weather in January

January is the hottest month of the year.

Normal daytime temperatures hover around 28 °C, but can rise to 42 °C on extremely hot days.

There are on average 7 days in January when it rains, but mostly only in the form of short thunderstorms.

Weather in February

February is the second hottest month of the summer, when the high season is in full swing in the coastal areas, but not many tourists visit Canberra for this reason.

Temperatures hover around 27°C, rising to 40°C on extreme days.

February has similar rainfall to January.

Weather in March

March is the last month of summer. Average temperatures are around 24 °C, but March is a month of frequent fluctuations.

Days with temperatures above 30 °C are quite common, but also days with temperatures around 20 °C.

March is also a very sunny month. Short showers occur about 6 days a month.

Weather in April

April is the first month of autumn, but temperatures are still quite high and the leaves on the trees are therefore not yet turning colour.

Temperatures range widely from 19°C to 29°C and there are mostly clear or partly cloudy skies.

Weather in May

During May the average temperature drops to 17 °C, but there may still be days when the temperature reaches 24 °C.

The frequency of showers increases slightly compared to the summer, but the rain is generally short and light, and staying in town is not affected by rain.

Weather in June

During June, the winter season slowly sets in. The leaves on the trees are turning beautiful shades and the average temperature is between 8 °C and 15 °C.

Statistically, June has the lowest chance of clear skies (47% on average), but rainfall usually lasts no longer than 2 hours and does not significantly affect your stay in the city.

Weather in July

July is the coldest month of the year with average temperatures between 6°C and 12°C.

Due to the proximity of the mountains, early morning frosts can occur and, on rare occasions, it can snow right in the centre of Canberra.

July is the peak season for colourful foliage on the trees. It is often cloudy and rains about 10 days out of the month, but usually for no more than 2 hours and the rainfall is very light.

Weather in August

August is also a cold winter month with an average temperature of 11 °C.

Mostly partly cloudy skies prevail, with occasional showers, which can be snow.

Weather in September

September slowly warms up and the temperature rises to an average of 17 °C.

Spring flowers are in bloom and the second half of September is usually the best time to visit the Botanic Gardens or the Anzac Parade, which is decorated with many flower beds.

Weather in October

October is the main spring month with very pleasant weather. Temperatures range between 17°C and 20°C and there are mostly partly cloudy skies.

Weather in November

November is the start of the high season and average temperatures stay steadily above 22 °C, but can rise to 37 °C on extreme days.

Skies are mostly partly cloudy to clear and rain showers are generally very brief.

Weather in December

December is the first month of summer with temperatures between 23 °C and 27 °C, but days with temperatures well above 35 °C are not exceptional.

Rain falls in the form of thunderstorms, but these usually only occur for a few tens of minutes in the evening.

While other Australian cities have the most expensive hotels and tourist services during December, many locals take their holidays from Canberra, as the city empties out and accommodation prices fall.

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