Melbourne at a glance
- Best time
- Nov – Apr
- Warmest month
- Jan · 26°
- Warmest sea
- Feb · 20.9°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,520 h
- Rain a year
- 598 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC+11 / UTC+10
- Elevation
- 25 m
Climate in Melbourne
Melbourne has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. January is the warmest month with average highs of 26 °C, while July is the coolest at 13 °C. With around 2,520 hours of sunshine a year, Melbourne is sunny; January is the sunniest month with 9.3 hours a day.
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: November – April
What is the weather like in Melbourne in October?
In October, Melbourne is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 14.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Melbourne.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 13 h 0 min06:36 – 19:36
- UV index
- 8 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 21 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 59 %on average
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+11Australia/Melbourne
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %72 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %52 %
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
Sea temperature in Melbourne
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 13.8 – 15.3 °C
Swimming season: Jan – Mar
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Melbourne ranges from 11.1 °C in August to 20.9 °C in February. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from January to March.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in February, while the air already peaks in January. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in February, eight out of ten years were between 19.7 and 22.1 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 20.5° | 19.0° | 22.0° | refreshing |
| FebruaryFeb | 20.9° | 19.7° | 22.1° | refreshing |
| MarchMar | 20.2° | 19.1° | 21.3° | refreshing |
| AprilApr | 17.9° | 17.1° | 18.7° | fresh |
| MayMay | 15.3° | 14.4° | 16.1° | cold |
| JuneJun | 12.9° | 12.4° | 13.7° | cold |
| JulyJul | 11.5° | 11.0° | 12.4° | cold |
| AugustAug | 11.1° | 10.7° | 11.7° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 12.3° | 11.6° | 12.9° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 14.5° | 13.8° | 15.3° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 16.8° | 15.9° | 17.8° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 18.8° | 17.7° | 20.1° | fresh |
Sunshine hours in Melbourne
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 7.3 of 13.0 hours of daylight in Melbourne, 56 % of the day.
Sunshine hours count the time with bright, direct sunshine (WMO definition, estimated from model data); daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Melbourne: 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, Melbourne has about 11 rainy days with 64 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
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 | 96 | 26° | 15° | 20.5° | 9.3 h | 6 | 49 |
| FebruaryFeb | 96 | 26° | 15° | 20.9° | 8.6 h | 5 | 39 |
| MarchMar | 92 | 24° | 14° | 20.2° | 7.6 h | 6 | 36 |
| AprilApr | 84 | 20° | 11° | 17.9° | 6.2 h | 7 | 49 |
| MayMay | 69 | 16° | 9° | 15.3° | 5.3 h | 8 | 43 |
| JuneJun | 51 | 14° | 7° | 12.9° | 4.6 h | 10 | 46 |
| JulyJul | 45 | 13° | 7° | 11.5° | 4.8 h | 11 | 45 |
| AugustAug | 54 | 14° | 7° | 11.1° | 5.7 h | 11 | 51 |
| SeptemberSep | 69 | 17° | 8° | 12.3° | 6.6 h | 11 | 57 |
| OctoberOct | 80 | 19° | 10° | 14.5° | 7.3 h | 11 | 64 |
| NovemberNov | 84 | 21° | 12° | 16.8° | 8.0 h | 10 | 65 |
| DecemberDec | 93 | 24° | 13° | 18.8° | 9.0 h | 7 | 55 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
37.81° S, 144.96° E · 25 m · Australia/Melbourne
Best time to visit Melbourne
The best time to visit Melbourne is from November to April. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in February it only reaches 20.9 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from September to May. The wettest month is November with 65 mm of precipitation.
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Melbourne for you.
Your best months: February – March, December
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Sep – May
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Melbourne month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
96January26° · Sea 21° · 9 h
In January, Melbourne is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 20.5 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 49 mm. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in January96February26° · Sea 21° · 9 h
In February, Melbourne is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 20.9 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 39 mm. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in February92March24° · Sea 20° · 8 h
In March, Melbourne is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 20.2 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 36 mm. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in March84April20° · Sea 18° · 6 h
In April, Melbourne is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 17.9 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 49 mm. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in April69May16° · Sea 15° · 5 h
In May, Melbourne is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 15.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 43 mm. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in May51June14° · Sea 13° · 5 h
In June, Melbourne is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 12.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 46 mm in total. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in June45July13° · Sea 12° · 5 h
In July, Melbourne is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 11.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 45 mm in total. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in July54August14° · Sea 11° · 6 h
In August, Melbourne is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 11.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 51 mm in total. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in August69September17° · Sea 12° · 7 h
In September, Melbourne is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 57 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in September80October19° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In October, Melbourne is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 14.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in October84November21° · Sea 17° · 8 h
In November, Melbourne is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in November93December24° · Sea 19° · 9 h
In December, Melbourne is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 18.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 55 mm. On about 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Melbourne.
Melbourne in DecemberPlanning a trip to Melbourne
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 20 h 55 min
- Distance
- 16,930 km
- Time zone
- UTC+11
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 Melbourne
When is the best time to visit Melbourne?
The best time to visit Melbourne is from November to April. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Melbourne?
The sea temperature in Melbourne ranges from 11.1 °C in August to 20.9 °C in February. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from January to March.
Can you swim in Melbourne in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 14.5 °C. Comfortable swimming is possible from January to March.
What is the warmest month in Melbourne?
January is the warmest month, with average highs of 26 °C and nights around 15 °C. July is the coolest month at 13 °C.
When does it rain most in Melbourne?
The wettest month is November with 65 mm of precipitation. The driest month is March with 36 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Melbourne get?
Melbourne gets around 2,520 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is January with 9.3 hours a day; in June there are 4.6 hours a day.
What time zone is Melbourne in?
Melbourne uses the time zone Australia/Melbourne: UTC+11 in January and UTC+10 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Melbourne?
A nonstop flight from London to Melbourne takes about 20 h 55 min, for a straight-line distance of about 16,930 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Near Melbourne
Other destinations close by.