Climate Insights for Mackay

The climate in Mackay is warm and mild. The average annual temperature is 23°C and approximately 1263mm of precipitation falls per year. January is the wettest month, receiving around 293mm of rainfall. Mackay 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: February, January, March. The coldest months are July, August, June, when temperatures can drop to 16°C.

Mackay sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 16°C to 28°C. The warmest month is February, when average highs reach 28°C and the mean temperature sits around 27°C. July is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 16°C and an average of 19°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 4°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Mackay is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1263mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 105mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 293mm of rainfall. March and February also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is September, with just 17mm. That's 275mm 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.

Mackay is moderately windy, with an average annual wind speed of 23km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is April, averaging 25km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 20km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 5km/h between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to pick up during the summer months. The seasonal averages are 20km/h in winter, 22km/h in spring, 24km/h in summer, 24km/h in autumn.

It is currently autumn in Mackay, which began on March 20, 2026. Mackay 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 February at around 28°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 16°C. Winter is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 88 days from now.

The best time to visit Mackay is during May, June, July, August, September and October, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 21°C with modest rainfall averaging 41mm per month. By contrast, February can be uncomfortably hot with temperatures reaching 28°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Mackay 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.