AI-generatedCanberra at a glance
- Best time
- Oct – Apr
- Warmest month
- Jan · 27°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,600 h
- Rain a year
- 642 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC+11 / UTC+10
- Elevation
- 571 m
Climate in Canberra
Canberra has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. January is the warmest month with average highs of 27 °C, while July is the coolest at 10 °C. With around 2,600 hours of sunshine a year, Canberra is sunny; December is the sunniest month with 9.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: October – April
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 10°
- Midday, 13:00: about 18°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 18°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
06:2119:17
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:06–06:55 · evening 18:43–19:33
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:56–06:06 · evening 19:33–19:43
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Canberra in October?
In October, Canberra is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 64 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Canberra.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 55 min06:21 – 19:17
- UV index
- 9 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 20 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 49 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+11Australia/Sydney
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %78 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %71 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Canberra
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 7.7 of 12.9 hours of daylight in Canberra, 60 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Canberra
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 9 · very highStay in the shade around midday; SPF 50, clothing, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in December (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 15 min
- Fair skin
- about 20 min
- Light brown skin
- about 25 min
- Olive skin
- about 35 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Canberra: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Canberra has about 8 rainy days with 64 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Canberra
How breezy and how cloudy Canberra is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Canberra typically peaks at 20 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 49 % of the sky over Canberra: variable cloud, with about 7.7 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Canberra
How often the day gets hot in Canberra (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Canberra has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 19 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Canberra
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 7°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in July (1°), the warmest in January (14°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from May to October, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 95 | 27° | 14° | 8.9 h | 6 | 48 |
| FebruaryFeb | 95 | 25° | 14° | 8.6 h | 6 | 55 |
| MarchMar | 94 | 23° | 12° | 8.1 h | 6 | 45 |
| AprilApr | 93 | 19° | 8° | 7.2 h | 5 | 35 |
| MayMay | 69 | 14° | 4° | 5.9 h | 5 | 36 |
| JuneJun | 40 | 11° | 2° | 4.0 h | 8 | 58 |
| JulyJul | 37 | 10° | 1° | 4.6 h | 8 | 47 |
| AugustAug | 48 | 12° | 2° | 6.1 h | 9 | 60 |
| SeptemberSep | 72 | 15° | 4° | 7.1 h | 8 | 60 |
| OctoberOct | 87 | 19° | 7° | 7.7 h | 8 | 64 |
| NovemberNov | 89 | 22° | 10° | 8.4 h | 8 | 74 |
| DecemberDec | 94 | 25° | 12° | 9.0 h | 7 | 62 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
35.28° S, 149.13° E · 571 m · Australia/Sydney
Best time to visit Canberra
The best time to visit Canberra is from October to April. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from September to April. The wettest month is November with 74 mm of precipitation.
Canberra through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Canberra in spring
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 15–22 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days in all
Canberra in summer
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 25–27 °C by day
- 9 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days in all
Canberra in autumn
Mar – May
Excellent
- 14–23 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days in all
Canberra in winter
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 10–12 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Canberra for you.
Your best months: March, November – December
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Canberra
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
January has the better holiday weather in Canberra: score 95 against 87. In January, days are 8 °C warmer than in October. January has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in January.
| Month | October | January |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 87 | 95better |
| Day high | 19° | 27° |
| Night low | 7° | 14° |
| Sunshine | 7.7 h | 8.9 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 8 | 6better |
| Rainfall | 64 mm | 48 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 0better | 1 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Sep – Apr
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Canberra month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
95January27° · 9 h
In January, Canberra is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 48 mm. On about 8 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in January95February25° · 9 h
In February, Canberra is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 55 mm. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in February94March23° · 8 h
In March, Canberra is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 45 mm. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in March93April19° · 7 h
In April, Canberra is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 35 mm in total. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in April69May14° · 6 h
In May, Canberra is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 36 mm. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in May40June11° · 4 h
In June, Canberra is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 58 mm. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in June37July10° · 5 h
In July, Canberra is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 47 mm. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in July48August12° · 6 h
In August, Canberra is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in August72September15° · 7 h
In September, Canberra is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 60 mm. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in September87October19° · 8 h
In October, Canberra is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 64 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in October89November22° · 8 h
In November, Canberra is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 74 mm. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in November94December25° · 9 h
In December, Canberra is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 62 mm. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Canberra.
Canberra in DecemberCanberra compared
Put Canberra side by side with another destination.
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Canberra vs. Wollongong
In October the holiday weather in Canberra and Wollongong is about equally good (score 87 vs. 85). During the day Wollongong is 2 °C warmer than Canberra.
| in October | Canberra | Wollongong |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 87 | 85 |
| Daytime high | 19° | 21° |
| Sea | – | 19° |
| Sunshine | 8 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 8 | 9 |
| Best time | Oct – Apr | Apr – May, Aug – Feb |
Through the year
Australia in October: the best places
In October, Canberra ranks 10 of 24 destinations in this country.
- Airlie Beach (Whitsundays)29°25°99
- 2Perth22°19°97
- 3Cairns26°26°96
- 4Toowoomba25°94
- 5Adelaide20°16°94
- 6Mackay26°25°92
- 7Brisbane25°89
- 8Sunshine Coast25°23°89
- 10CanberraThis page19°87
Planning a trip to Canberra
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Canberra in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Canberra has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 95) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 44).
- 93
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Excellent
- 20 °C by day
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 63
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 14 °C by day
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
- 44
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 11 °C by day
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
- 87
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 19 °C by day
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 95
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 26 °C by day
- 9.0 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 21 h
- Distance
- 17,000 km
- Time zone
- UTC+11
- Jet lag
- About 10 days (10 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Canberra
When is the best time to visit Canberra?
The best time to visit Canberra is from October to April. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Canberra?
January is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C and nights around 14 °C. July is the coolest month at 10 °C.
When does it rain most in Canberra?
The wettest month is November with 74 mm of precipitation. The driest month is April with 35 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Canberra get?
Canberra gets around 2,600 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is December with 9.0 hours a day; in June there are 4.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Canberra in?
Canberra uses the time zone Australia/Sydney: UTC+11 in January and UTC+10 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Canberra?
A nonstop flight from London to Canberra takes about 21 h, for a straight-line distance of about 17,000 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Canberra?
Canberra has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 95) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 44). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 93, May half-term 63, Summer holidays 44, October half-term 87, Christmas holidays 95.
Near Canberra
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Canberra
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Canberra's – good alternatives.