Cairns in January

If January is your window for visiting Cairns, here's what the climate data says you can expect.

Daytime highs average 31.2 degrees, dropping to 24.5 degrees overnight. That's a 7-degree swing between day and night. The warmth sticks around even after dark.

January is 2.9 degrees warmer than the yearly average here.

You're looking at 689mm of rain across 26 days in a typical January. That's serious rainfall.

Sunshine-wise, January delivers around 19.5 MJ/m2 of daily solar radiation. UV sits in the very high category. You'll want SPF 50+ and a decent hat.

January scores 2.9/10 on our Comfort Score. It's the tough end of the year weather-wise.

For your suitcase: loose cotton or linen gear, a rain jacket or compact umbrella, and serious sun protection.

The sea breeze usually kicks in by early afternoon in January, which is genuinely welcome. It can knock 3 to 5 degrees off the feels-like temperature.

The full data breakdown is below. You can also see how other Australian cities compare in January.