AI-generatedMackay at a glance
- Best time
- Apr, Sep – Dec
- Warmest month
- Jan · 28°
- Warmest sea
- Feb · 28.4°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,540 h
- Rain a year
- 1,253 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC+10
- Elevation
- 11 m
Climate in Mackay
Mackay has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. January is the warmest month with average highs of 28 °C, while July is the coolest at 21 °C. With around 2,540 hours of sunshine a year, Mackay is sunny; October is the sunniest month with 8.1 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: April, September – December
Good forBeach & swimmingSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 23°
- Midday, 13:00: about 26°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 25°
- Evening, 20:00: about 23°
- Night, 23:00: about 22°
05:3318:05
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:19–06:02 · evening 17:36–18:19
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:10–05:19 · evening 18:19–18:28
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 Mackay in October?
In October, Mackay is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 24.8 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 39 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Mackay.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 33 min05:33 – 18:05
- UV index
- 12 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 17 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 21 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 37 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+10Australia/Brisbane
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %85 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %77 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
Sea temperature in Mackay
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 24.0 – 25.5 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Mackay ranges from 21.0 °C in July to 28.4 °C in February. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in February, while the air already peaks in January. From February to June the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in February, eight out of ten years were between 27.3 and 29.3 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 28.3° | 27.4° | 29.2° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 28.4° | 27.3° | 29.3° | warm |
| MarchMar | 27.8° | 26.7° | 28.6° | warm |
| AprilApr | 26.4° | 25.6° | 27.0° | warm |
| MayMay | 24.3° | 23.6° | 25.2° | pleasant |
| JuneJun | 22.3° | 21.3° | 22.9° | refreshing |
| JulyJul | 21.0° | 19.9° | 22.0° | refreshing |
| AugustAug | 21.2° | 20.2° | 22.1° | refreshing |
| SeptemberSep | 22.8° | 22.1° | 23.4° | refreshing |
| OctoberOct | 24.8° | 24.0° | 25.5° | pleasant |
| NovemberNov | 26.4° | 25.5° | 27.2° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 27.8° | 27.0° | 28.7° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Mackay
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 8.1 of 12.5 hours of daylight in Mackay, 65 % 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 Mackay
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 12 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in January (UV 12).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 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 Mackay: 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, Mackay has about 7 rainy days with 39 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Mackay
How breezy and how cloudy Mackay 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 Mackay typically peaks at 21 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Sep – May.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 37 % of the sky over Mackay: mostly sunny, with about 8.1 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 Mackay
How often the day gets hot in Mackay (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, Mackay has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 26 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
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 Mackay
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
WarmOctober: nights around 21°. Tropical nights: a fan or air conditioning helps. Muggy on about 17 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in July (16°), the warmest in January (24°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from October to April; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from May to September. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 206 days a year, mostly from October to May.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 73 | 28° | 24° | 28.3° | 7.0 h | 18 | 258 |
| FebruaryFeb | 71 | 28° | 24° | 28.4° | 6.4 h | 18 | 250 |
| MarchMar | 72 | 28° | 24° | 27.8° | 6.3 h | 17 | 198 |
| AprilApr | 77 | 26° | 22° | 26.4° | 6.5 h | 14 | 104 |
| MayMay | 75 | 24° | 19° | 24.3° | 6.3 h | 10 | 56 |
| JuneJun | 60 | 22° | 17° | 22.3° | 5.8 h | 8 | 44 |
| JulyJul | 57 | 21° | 16° | 21.0° | 6.3 h | 5 | 41 |
| AugustAug | 67 | 22° | 16° | 21.2° | 7.2 h | 4 | 27 |
| SeptemberSep | 87 | 24° | 19° | 22.8° | 7.9 h | 4 | 18 |
| OctoberOct | 92 | 26° | 21° | 24.8° | 8.1 h | 7 | 39 |
| NovemberNov | 86 | 27° | 23° | 26.4° | 7.8 h | 11 | 80 |
| DecemberDec | 83 | 28° | 24° | 27.8° | 7.8 h | 13 | 139 |
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
21.15° S, 149.17° E · 11 m · Australia/Brisbane
Best time to visit Mackay
The best time to visit Mackay is in April and from September to December. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go in May and from September to November. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to November. Rain is most frequent from December to April; the wettest month is January with 258 mm.
Mackay through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Mackay in spring
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 24–27 °C by day
- Sea 25 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days in all
Mackay in summer
Dec – Feb
Good
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 50 rainy days in all
Mackay in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 24–28 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 42 rainy days in all
Mackay in winter
Jun – Aug
Good
- 21–22 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Mackay for you.
Your best months: October – December
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Mackay
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October has the better holiday weather in Mackay: score 92 against 87. In September, days are 2 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 2 °C cooler in September. September has 3 fewer rainy days.
| Month | October | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 92better | 87 |
| Day high | 26° | 24° |
| Night low | 21° | 19° |
| Sea | 24.8° | 22.8° |
| Sunshine | 8.1 h | 7.9 h |
| Rainy days | 7 | 4better |
| Rainfall | 39 mm | 18 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 17 | 7better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
May, Sep – Nov
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Dec – Apr
12 or more rainy days
Mackay month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
73January28° · Sea 28° · 7 h
In January, Mackay is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 258 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in January71February28° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In February, Mackay is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 250 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in February72March28° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In March, Mackay is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 198 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in March77April26° · Sea 26° · 7 h
In April, Mackay is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 26.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 104 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in April75May24° · Sea 24° · 6 h
In May, Mackay is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 24.3 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 56 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in May60June22° · Sea 22° · 6 h
In June, Mackay is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 22.3 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 44 mm. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in June57July21° · Sea 21° · 6 h
In July, Mackay is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 21.0 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 41 mm. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in July67August22° · Sea 21° · 7 h
In August, Mackay is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 21.2 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 27 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in August87September24° · Sea 23° · 8 h
In September, Mackay is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 22.8 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 18 mm in total. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in September92October26° · Sea 25° · 8 h
In October, Mackay is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 24.8 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 39 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in October86November27° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In November, Mackay is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 80 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in November83December28° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In December, Mackay is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 139 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Mackay.
Mackay in DecemberMackay compared
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Mackay vs. Airlie Beach (Whitsundays)
In October Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) has the better holiday weather (score 99 vs. 92). During the day Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) is 3 °C warmer than Mackay. The sea is about equally warm. Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) gets 3 more hours of sunshine a day.
| in October | Mackay | Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 92 | 99 |
| Daytime high | 26° | 29° |
| Sea | 25° | 25° |
| Sunshine | 8 h | 11 h |
| Rainy days | 7 | 5 |
| Best time | Apr, Sep – Dec | Apr – May, Aug – Nov |
Through the year
Australia in October: the best places
In October, Mackay ranks 6 of 24 destinations in this country.
- Airlie Beach (Whitsundays)29°25°99
- 2Perth22°19°97
- 3Cairns26°26°96
- 4Toowoomba25°94
- 5Adelaide20°16°94
- 6MackayThis page26°25°92
- 7Sunshine Coast25°23°89
- 8Brisbane25°89
Planning a trip to Mackay
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Mackay 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.
Mackay has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 92) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 64).
- 76
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 26 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 72
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 23 °C by day
- Sea 24 °C
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 64
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 22 °C by day
- Sea 21 °C
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 92
October half-term
Oct
ExcellentBest holidays
- 26 °C by day
- Sea 25 °C
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 78
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 7.4 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 19 h 30 min
- Distance
- 15,740 km
- Time zone
- UTC+10
- Jet lag
- About 9 days (9 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.
Storm season
Mackay lies in an area that Australian tropical cyclones can reach. The cyclone season runs from November to April, with most storms from January to March. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January: Peak
- February: Peak
- March: Peak
- April: Season
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November: Season
- December: Season
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Mackay
When is the best time to visit Mackay?
The best time to visit Mackay is in April and from September to December. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Mackay?
The sea temperature in Mackay ranges from 21.0 °C in July to 28.4 °C in February. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Mackay in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 24.8 °C – pleasant for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Mackay?
January is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C and nights around 24 °C. July is the coolest month at 21 °C.
When does it rain most in Mackay?
Rain is most frequent from December to April; the wettest month is January with 258 mm. The driest month is September with 18 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Mackay get?
Mackay gets around 2,540 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is October with 8.1 hours a day; in June there are 5.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Mackay in?
Mackay uses the time zone Australia/Brisbane, at UTC+10 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Mackay?
A nonstop flight from London to Mackay takes about 19 h 30 min, for a straight-line distance of about 15,740 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
When is cyclone season in Mackay?
Mackay lies in an area that Australian tropical cyclones can reach. The cyclone season runs from November to April, with most storms from January to March. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Mackay?
Mackay has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 92) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 64). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 76, May half-term 72, Summer holidays 64, October half-term 92, Christmas holidays 78.
Near Mackay
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Mackay
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Mackay's – good alternatives.