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Cairns in March: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Discover the weather for Cairns in March and if it’s a good time to travel (based on historical data).
Check flight prices to Cairns on Avionero:
March

Weather in Cairns in March 2025

OK Weather
Warm
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Very warm water
March could be a good time to visit Cairns, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +82°F, and there are typically 2 sunny days in March. However, expect about 23 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 226 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+82°F
Avg. max. temperature
+66°F
Min.
+97°F
Max.
226 mm
Total precipitation
80%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
2 ☀️
Sunny Days
5 ⛅️
Cloudy
23 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Cairns has OK weather in March.

Average temperature in Cairns in March

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Cairns for March based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The expected average maximum temperature in March is +82°F with a maximum of +84°F and a minimum of +73°F.

The average maximum temperature goes up 0% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +82°F to +82°F.

Is Cairns warm or cold in March?

Cairns is typically warm in March.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +84°F to +82°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +77°F to +75°F.

It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.

Take a look at how March is compared to other months in Cairns:

Water temperature in Cairns in March

Water in Cairns in March is Very warm. It varies from +81°F to +85°F, with an average of +83°F. Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +82°F.

In March, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:

The warmest water temperatures in Cairns are reached in February, when the average sea temperature rises to +85°F. The coldest water temperatures are in July, with an average of +75°F.

Can you swim in Cairns in March?

You can definitely swim in Cairns in March, the water is very warm (+83°F in average), and might even be unpleasant for ones who like it more fresh.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
Don't forget sunscreen and a hat, it's going to be hot!

Climate in Cairns in March

Cairns weather looks like this, on average, in March and the surrounding months.
FebruaryMarchApril
Avg. temperature
+84°F+82°F+81°F
Min. temperature
+68°F+66°F+61°F
Max. temperature
+102°F+97°F+93°F
Rainfall
263 mm226 mm121 mm
Wind
2 m/s3 m/s3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+85°F+83°F+82°F
Humidity
81%80%79%
Air pressure
1007 HPa1009 HPa1012 HPa
Sunny days
123
Cloudy days
256
Rainy days
212321
Snowy days
000

March weather is still as ok as in February. It’s getting colder in March. From +84°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +82°F. As March arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 263 mm to 226 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 81% to 80%. Winds are stronger in comparison to February, going up from 2 m/s to 3 m/s on average. The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in March, from 1 to 2.

April brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in Cairns in March based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 2 m/s getting up to 4 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.

The average wind speed in Cairns is gradually increasing during March, going from 1 m/s to 1 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during March in Cairns based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in March is about 390 mm, with a 68% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 111 mm, which is considered heavy rain. March is a pretty wet month with over 21 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
March is one of the rainiest months in Cairns, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Cairns wettest month is January, where a typical day has a 71% chance of precipitation and 290 mm of rainfall per day. September, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 33% chance of precipitation and 20 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last March in Cairns?

This is the weather in Cairns in March 2023:
1 March
☁️
+82°F
2 March
☁️
+83°F
3 March
☁️
+82°F
4 March
🌧️
+82°F
5 March
🌧️
+77°F
6 March
🌧️
+80°F
7 March
🌧️
+82°F
8 March
🌧️
+83°F
9 March
🌧️
+83°F
10 March
☁️
+83°F
11 March
☁️
+84°F
12 March
☁️
+83°F
13 March
☁️
+84°F
14 March
☁️
+84°F
15 March
☁️
+84°F
16 March
☁️
+84°F
17 March
☁️
+84°F
18 March
🌧️
+83°F
19 March
🌧️
+82°F
20 March
🌧️
+83°F
21 March
🌧️
+80°F
22 March
☁️
+82°F
23 March
🌧️
+82°F
24 March
🌧️
+80°F
25 March
☁️
+82°F
26 March
☁️
+82°F
27 March
☀️
+82°F
28 March
☀️
+83°F
29 March
☁️
+82°F
30 March
☁️
+82°F
31 March
☁️
+83°F
In March 2023 Cairns had 2 sunny days, 17 cloudy days, and 12 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +82°F, with an absolute maximum of +84°F and a minimum of +77°F. The average humidity was 86%, with a maximum of 98% and a minimum of 56%. The average wind speed was 2 m/s, with a maximum of 10 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in March?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Cairns climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Cairns in March has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1982 (+76°F) and the highest in 2013 (+86°F). The driest year was 2002 with only 513 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 3123 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Cairns in March:

Is March a good time to visit Cairns?

It’s always a good time to visit Cairns, but the weather is changeable in March, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Cairns in March?

March is warm in Cairns. You may enjoy some beach or pool time in the day, but pack something a tad warmer for the evening.

Can you swim in Cairns in March?

Yes, you can swim in Cairns in March, the water is very warm, with temperature averaging at +83°F, but it's important to manage hydration and sun exposure.

Is Cairns rainy in March?

Cairns is often rainy in March. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Cairns in March?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Cairns in March, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in Australia

Check out the weather for other cities in Australia.

Monthly weather in Cairns

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Cairns, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.