Great Barrier Reef Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Great Barrier Reef: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in Great Barrier Reef month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 84° | 81° | 19,3 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 84° | 80° | 17,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 83° | 80° | 10,8 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| April | 81° | 78° | 3,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 79° | 76° | 2,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 76° | 73° | 1,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 75° | 72° | 1,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 75° | 72° | 2,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 76° | 74° | 0,7 in | ★★★★★ |
| October | 78° | 76° | 0,6 in | ★★★★★ |
| November | 81° | 78° | 1,3 in | ★★★★★ |
| December | 83° | 80° | 10,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Tropical. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in Great Barrier Reef
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How Great Barrier Reef compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Great Barrier Reef.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Barrier Reef | 0 mi | 78°F | about the same | 71 in |
| Cairns | 158 mi | 76°F | 34°F cooler | 90 in |
| Whitehaven Beach | 163 mi | 76°F | 35°F cooler | 61 in |
| Port Douglas | 193 mi | 76°F | 34°F cooler | 120 in |
| Queensland | 373 mi | 79°F | about the same | 33 in |
Best time to visit Great Barrier Reef
Go in September, October and November. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and March - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for Great Barrier Reef
Today is slightly cooler than average for October. The forecast high of 75°F is 3.2°F below the 78°F typical for this month.
A 88% chance means rain is expected over most of the area. Plan indoor alternatives.
Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Southern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in December to February.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 41°F - an unusually even climate through the year.
What to pack, what to skip
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- A packable rain shell - 2 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- Insect repellent and quick-dry fabrics for humidity
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and March - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Great Barrier Reef is an UNESCO World Heritage Site in Australia. Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for the largest coral reef ecosystem.
Right now it is 75°F (24°C) in Great Barrier Reef with mainly clear. It feels like 73°F. Today runs from 73°F to 75°F. Chance of precipitation is 88%. Sightseeing conditions score 6.8/10 - fair - plan around the weather.
The best time to visit Great Barrier Reef is September, October and November. The climate is tropical. January, February and March tend to be the least comfortable months. February is the warmest month with average highs near 84°F, while August is the coldest with lows near 72°F.
Nearby highlights include Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach.
In plain terms. Today is slightly cooler than average for October. The forecast high of 75°F is 3.2°F below the 78°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 12 PM to 3 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Great Barrier Reef today at 7.2/10. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about Great Barrier Reef
Weather map for Great Barrier Reef
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Great Barrier Reef
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Great Barrier Reef?
Great Barrier Reef is an UNESCO World Heritage Site in Australia. Its coordinates are -18.2871, 147.6992. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in Great Barrier Reef right now?
It is currently 75°F (24°C) with mainly clear. Humidity is 69% and wind is 19 mph.
When is the best time to visit Great Barrier Reef?
September, October and November offer the most comfortable conditions in Great Barrier Reef, which has a tropical climate. January, February and March are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Great Barrier Reef in?
Great Barrier Reef observes Etc/GMT-10 (UTC+10:00). The local time is 4:47 AM.
What are the top things to do in Great Barrier Reef?
Popular options include Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (unesco-sites) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 1, 2026 at 4:47 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
