Melbourne is Australia's southernmost major city and is the only major city with a temperate oceanic climate.

This is characterised by the alternation of 4 seasons, which is otherwise rather rare in the rest of Australia (with the exception of Tasmania and the state of Victoria). However, winters here are very mild with temperatures between 12 and 16 °C.

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Melbourne weather specifics

Australia's second largest city is known for frequent and often very rapid and dramatic changes in weather and temperatures.

This is due to the city's location between the hot inland plains and the cold Southern Ocean. Masses of hot and cold air often collide just above Melbourne, bringing rapid changes in the weather.

It's not unusual for the temperature difference to exceed 15 °C over two days.

When is summer and winter in Melbourne?

Because 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 15°C (59°F) common.

When does it rain the most in Melbourne?

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

Melbourne 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.

Although the rainiest days are in winter (June to September), the rain tends to be lighter compared to the rest of the year.

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 44%m while in winter it is around 65%.

Is there a risk of tropical storms in Melbourne?

No. Melbourne is too far south so typhoons or tropical storms do not occur here.

Weather and temperatures throughout the year

This is what the weather in Melbourne looks like during the different months of the year.

Weather in January

January is the hottest month of the year and the main beach season.

Normal daytime temperatures hover around 28°C, but can rise to 40°C on days of extreme heat.

There are on average 8 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 summer, when the high season for seaside stays and road-trips along the Great Ocean Road or Coastal Drive is in full swing.

Temperatures hover around 27°C, rising to 38°C on extreme days.

February has similar rainfall totals 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 8 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 28°C, with 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 27 °C.

Compared to summer, there are more cloudy skies and about 12 rainy days. However, rainfall tends to be very short and moderate and May is ideal for long walks outdoors due to the pleasant temperatures.

Weather in June

During June, the winter season slowly sets in. The leaves on the trees turn beautiful shades and average temperatures range between 12 °C and 19 °C.

Statistically, June has the lowest chance of clear skies (43% on average), but rainfall usually doesn't last more than 2 hours and doesn't significantly affect your stay in the city.

June is the lowest season with the cheapest hotel prices.

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Weather in July

July is the coldest month of the year with average temperatures between 10°C and 17°C.

July is the peak season for the colourful leaves on the trees. It is often cloudy and rains about 14 days out of the month, but usually not for 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 14 °C.

According to statistics, August has the most rainy days of the year, but staying in the city is not adversely affected by light and short showers.

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 most beautiful time to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

Weather in October

October is the main spring month with very pleasant weather. Temperatures range between 17°C and 22°C and there are mostly partly cloudy skies.

Weather in November

November is the start of the high season and average temperatures stay consistently above 22 °C, but can rise to 34 °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 over 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.

During December, due to the summer season and the Christmas holidays, hotel prices and services are usually the most expensive.