AI-generatedTownsville at a glance
- Best time
- May – Oct
- Warmest month
- Dec · 31°
- Warmest sea
- Feb · 29.2°
- Sunshine a year
- 3,150 h
- Rain a year
- 1,020 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC+10
- Elevation
- 15 m
Climate in Townsville
Townsville has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. December is the warmest month with average highs of 31 °C, while July is the coolest at 24 °C. With around 3,150 hours of sunshine a year, Townsville is very sunny; October is the sunniest month with 9.9 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: May – October
Good forBeach & swimming
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 25°
- Midday, 13:00: about 29°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 28°
- Evening, 20:00: about 25°
- Night, 23:00: about 23°
05:4318:14
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:30–06:12 · evening 17:44–18:27
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:21–05:30 · evening 18:27–18:36
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 Townsville in October?
In October, Townsville is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 25.9 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 24 mm. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Townsville.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 30 min05:43 – 18:14
- UV index
- 12 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 17 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 17 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 39 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 7 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+10Australia/Brisbane
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %75 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %100 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %91 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
Sea temperature in Townsville
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 25.2 – 26.8 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Townsville ranges from 22.3 °C in July to 29.2 °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 December. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in February, eight out of ten years were between 28.3 and 30.0 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 29.1° | 28.4° | 29.8° | very warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 29.2° | 28.3° | 30.0° | very warm |
| MarchMar | 28.5° | 27.5° | 29.4° | warm |
| AprilApr | 27.2° | 26.4° | 27.9° | warm |
| MayMay | 25.2° | 24.5° | 26.1° | pleasant |
| JuneJun | 23.3° | 22.6° | 24.0° | pleasant |
| JulyJul | 22.3° | 21.4° | 23.3° | refreshing |
| AugustAug | 22.5° | 21.5° | 23.5° | refreshing |
| SeptemberSep | 24.1° | 23.4° | 24.6° | pleasant |
| OctoberOct | 25.9° | 25.2° | 26.8° | pleasant |
| NovemberNov | 27.4° | 26.8° | 28.1° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 28.6° | 27.8° | 29.4° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Townsville
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 9.9 of 12.5 hours of daylight in Townsville, 79 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 5 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Townsville
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 November (UV 13).
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 Townsville: 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, Townsville has about 5 rainy days with 24 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Townsville
How breezy and how cloudy Townsville 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 Townsville typically peaks at 17 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 39 % of the sky over Townsville: mostly sunny, with about 9.9 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 Townsville
How often the day gets hot in Townsville (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, Townsville has about 7 hot days, with an average daytime high of 29 °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 Townsville
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 22°. 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 (25°). 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 211 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 | 46 | 31° | 25° | 29.1° | 8.1 h | 18 | 226 |
| FebruaryFeb | 45 | 30° | 25° | 29.2° | 7.5 h | 18 | 266 |
| MarchMar | 58 | 30° | 24° | 28.5° | 7.9 h | 14 | 154 |
| AprilApr | 80 | 28° | 22° | 27.2° | 8.1 h | 8 | 68 |
| MayMay | 94 | 26° | 19° | 25.2° | 7.9 h | 5 | 32 |
| JuneJun | 96 | 24° | 17° | 23.3° | 7.7 h | 4 | 22 |
| JulyJul | 98 | 24° | 16° | 22.3° | 8.5 h | 3 | 22 |
| AugustAug | 100 | 25° | 16° | 22.5° | 9.1 h | 2 | 16 |
| SeptemberSep | 99 | 27° | 19° | 24.1° | 9.7 h | 4 | 11 |
| OctoberOct | 85 | 29° | 22° | 25.9° | 9.9 h | 5 | 24 |
| NovemberNov | 71 | 30° | 23° | 27.4° | 9.7 h | 9 | 58 |
| DecemberDec | 57 | 31° | 24° | 28.6° | 9.3 h | 13 | 121 |
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
19.27° S, 146.81° E · 15 m · Australia/Brisbane
Best time to visit Townsville
The best time to visit Townsville is from May to October. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from April to November. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to September. Rain is most frequent from December to March; the wettest month is February with 266 mm.
Townsville through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Townsville in spring
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 27–30 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 10 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days in all
Townsville in summer
Dec – Feb
Fair
- 30–31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 49 rainy days in all
Townsville in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 26–30 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days in all
Townsville in winter
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 24–25 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Townsville for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Townsville
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
August has the better holiday weather in Townsville: score 100 against 85. In August, days are 4 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 3 °C cooler in August. August has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour less a day in August.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 85 | 100better |
| Day high | 29° | 25° |
| Night low | 22° | 16° |
| Sea | 25.9° | 22.5° |
| Sunshine | 9.9 hbetter | 9.1 h |
| Rainy days | 5 | 2better |
| Rainfall | 24 mm | 16 mm |
| Muggy days | 17 | 2better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Apr – Nov
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Dec – Mar
12 or more rainy days
Townsville month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
46January31° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In January, Townsville is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 226 mm. On about 18 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in January45February30° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In February, Townsville is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 266 mm. On about 14 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in February58March30° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In March, Townsville is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 154 mm. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a so-so month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in March80April28° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In April, Townsville is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 27.2 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 68 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in April94May26° · Sea 25° · 8 h
In May, Townsville is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 25.2 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 32 mm in total. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in May96June24° · Sea 23° · 8 h
In June, Townsville is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 23.3 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 22 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in June98July24° · Sea 22° · 9 h
In July, Townsville is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 22.3 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 22 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in July100August25° · Sea 23° · 9 h
In August, Townsville is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 22.5 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 16 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in August99September27° · Sea 24° · 10 h
In September, Townsville is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 24.1 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 11 mm in total. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in September85October29° · Sea 26° · 10 h
In October, Townsville is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 25.9 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 24 mm. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in October71November30° · Sea 27° · 10 h
In November, Townsville is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 27.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 58 mm in total. On about 15 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in November57December31° · Sea 29° · 9 h
In December, Townsville is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 121 mm in total. On about 21 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Townsville.
Townsville in DecemberTownsville compared
Put Townsville side by side with another destination.
No destination found
Townsville vs. Airlie Beach (Whitsundays)
In October the holiday weather in Townsville and Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) is about equally good (score 85 vs. 85). During the day it is about as warm in Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) as in Townsville. The sea in Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) is 1 °C cooler. Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Townsville | Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 85 | 85 |
| Daytime high | 29° | 29° |
| Sea | 26° | 25° |
| Sunshine | 10 h | 11 h |
| Rainy days | 5 | 5 |
| Best time | May – Oct | Apr – May, Aug – Nov |
Through the year
Australia in October: the best places
In October, Townsville ranks 14 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
- 7Sunshine Coast25°23°89
- 8Brisbane25°89
- 14TownsvilleThis page29°26°85
Planning a trip to Townsville
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Townsville 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.
Townsville has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 99) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 52).
- 73
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 8.0 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 94
May half-term
May – Jun
Excellent
- 26 °C by day
- Sea 25 °C
- 7.9 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 99
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 25 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 8.9 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 85
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 9.9 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
- 52
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Fair
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 8.7 h of sun a day
- 15 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 5 min
- Distance
- 15,440 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
Townsville 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 Townsville
When is the best time to visit Townsville?
The best time to visit Townsville is from May to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Townsville?
The sea temperature in Townsville ranges from 22.3 °C in July to 29.2 °C in February. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Townsville in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 25.9 °C – pleasant for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Townsville?
December is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C and nights around 24 °C. July is the coolest month at 24 °C.
When does it rain most in Townsville?
Rain is most frequent from December to March; the wettest month is February with 266 mm. The driest month is September with 11 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Townsville get?
Townsville gets around 3,150 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is October with 9.9 hours a day; in February there are 7.5 hours a day.
What time zone is Townsville in?
Townsville uses the time zone Australia/Brisbane, at UTC+10 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Townsville?
A nonstop flight from London to Townsville takes about 19 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 15,440 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
When is cyclone season in Townsville?
Townsville 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 Townsville?
Townsville has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 99) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 52). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 73, May half-term 94, Summer holidays 99, October half-term 85, Christmas holidays 52.
Near Townsville
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Townsville
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Townsville's – good alternatives.