Climate Insights for Melbourne

The climate in Melbourne is temperate. The average annual temperature is 18°C and approximately 260mm of precipitation falls per year. December is the wettest month, receiving around 33mm of rainfall. Melbourne is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed — summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: January, December, November. The coldest months are August, September, July, when temperatures can drop to 15°C.

Melbourne has relatively stable temperatures year-round, staying within a 7°C range. January is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 22°C with a mean of 20°C. August is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 15°C and an average of 15°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 2°C between highs and lows.

Melbourne is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 260mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 22mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 33mm of rainfall. March and April also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 0mm. That's 32mm less than January, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic.

Melbourne is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 6km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is September, averaging 10km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in February, with average winds dropping to 2km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind speeds vary significantly across the year, with a 8km/h difference between the calmest and windiest months. This level of variation is worth factoring into travel plans. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 7km/h in winter, 8km/h in spring, 4km/h in summer, 7km/h in autumn.

It is currently winter in Melbourne, which began on June 21, 2026. Melbourne is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed — spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in January at around 22°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in August near 15°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 18 days from now.

The best time to visit Melbourne is during January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 18°C with modest rainfall averaging 22mm per month. With minimal rainfall expected, you can pack light and plan outdoor activities with confidence.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Melbourne based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.