🌤️ Climate & Seasons
Brisbane Weather
Brisbane has a humid subtropical climate, which in practice means hot wet summers, mild dry winters, and a sun that is stronger than the temperature suggests all year round.
20.4°C
Annual mean
~1,150 mm
Annual rainfall
Extreme
UV most of the year
Oct–Mar
Storm season
Brisbane's climate is classified as humid subtropical — Cfa in the Köppen system — with an annual mean around 20.4 degrees and roughly 1,150mm of rain. The number that matters more than either is that the rain is summer-dominant, which is the opposite of what northern-hemisphere visitors expect.
Summer: December to February
Hot and humid, with daytime temperatures commonly in the high twenties to mid thirties and humidity that makes it feel warmer. Nights stay warm.
This is the wet season and the storm season. Storms build through a hot, still afternoon and break somewhere between three and six, often with hail and short intense rain, then clear. They are dramatic rather than day-ruining, and the sensible response is scheduling rather than cancelling.
The middle of a summer day is genuinely taxing. Plan outdoor activity for early morning and late afternoon.
Autumn: March to May
The humidity drops away through March and April, and by May the weather is close to ideal — warm days, cool nights, low rainfall.
March can still deliver significant rain as the wet season tails off. April and May are among the best months to visit and are quieter than winter.
Winter: June to August
This is Brisbane's dry season and, for most visitors, its best weather. Days are typically mild and clear, nights are cool, and rainfall is low.
Visibility is at its sharpest, which matters for the lookouts — Mount Coot-tha and the Kangaroo Point clifftops are at their best in winter. It is also whale season offshore from June, and strawberries are a winter crop here rather than a summer one.
The catch: waterfalls in the hinterland frequently run dry through winter, because they are rain-fed.
Spring: September to November
Warming, still relatively dry early, with the humidity and storm activity building through November.
Late October and November bring the jacarandas, which flower purple across the inner suburbs and are one of the genuinely beautiful things about the city. Spring is also the better half of whale season, when mothers travel south with calves.
The Sun Is the Real Story
Temperature is not what catches visitors out. UV levels reach extreme readings for much of the year, and burn times can be under fifteen minutes in summer.
The winter sun is dangerous too, and more so precisely because it does not feel hot — a mild 22-degree July day still carries high UV, and people burn badly on it. Sunscreen, a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sleeves are the local habit for a reason.
Storms, Floods and Warnings
Storm season runs roughly October to March. Severe storms can bring damaging wind, hail and flash flooding, and warnings are issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Brisbane has a serious flood history — 1974, 2011 and 2022 all inundated parts of the inner city, which is why flood markers appear along the riverside paths. Never drive or walk through floodwater at any depth.
Cyclones do not reach Brisbane directly in normal circumstances, but their remnants can bring heavy rain and swell to South-East Queensland.
What to Pack
Summer: light breathable clothing, a hat, high-SPF sunscreen, a light rain layer for the afternoon storm, and something warmer for over-airconditioned interiors.
Winter: layers. Days are mild enough for shirtsleeves and evenings drop enough for a jacket. Heating is less universal in Queensland buildings than visitors expect.
Year-round: sun protection, and closed shoes if you plan to walk any of the bush tracks.
Common Questions
Humid subtropical — Cfa in the Köppen system — with an annual mean around 20.4 degrees and roughly 1,150mm of rain, concentrated in summer.
Summer, roughly December to March. This is the opposite of what many northern-hemisphere visitors expect. Winter is the dry season.
April, May and the winter months for weather. Late October and November for the jacarandas, though humidity is building by then.
Extreme for much of the year, with burn times under fifteen minutes in summer. Winter sun is also dangerous, more so because it does not feel hot.
Not directly in normal circumstances, but cyclone remnants can bring heavy rain and swell to South-East Queensland.
They build through a hot afternoon, break between about three and six, and usually clear within the hour. Plan around them rather than cancelling.
Layers. Days are mild enough for shirtsleeves, evenings need a jacket, and heating is less universal in Queensland buildings than visitors expect.
Keep Planning
Best Time to VisitSeason by season in detailVisitor EssentialsUV, storms and safetyBrisbane in SummerStorms and how to planBrisbane in WinterThe dry seasonRainy Day ActivitiesWhen the weather turnsBrisbane Travel GuideStart here
Cooee Tours acknowledges the Turrbal and Yuggera (Jagera) peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Brisbane stands. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
Need a Hand With the Ground Half?
Transfers, charters and guided days across South-East Queensland. Family owned and operating since 1974.
Ask us