Climate Insights for Parkes

The climate in Parkes is temperate. The average annual temperature is 17°C and approximately 627mm of precipitation falls per year. Parkes receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Parkes 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, February, December. The coldest months are July, August, June, when temperatures can drop to 4°C.

Temperatures in Parkes vary considerably across the year, with a 29°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is January, when average highs reach 33°C and the mean temperature sits around 26°C. July is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 4°C and an average of 9°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 12°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between March and April, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Parkes is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 627mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 52mm per month. The wettest month is November, averaging 70mm of rainfall. March and October also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 40mm. That's 30mm less than November, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around.

Parkes is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 12km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is November, averaging 13km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in April, with average winds dropping to 11km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 2km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently winter in Parkes, which began on June 21, 2026. Parkes 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 33°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 4°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (7 days from now).

The best time to visit Parkes is during February, March, April, October, November and December, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 20°C with modest rainfall averaging 55mm per month. By contrast, January can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 33°C, while July is the coldest period with lows dropping to 4°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 Parkes 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.