Mackay weather by month & the best time to visit
Australia · beach resort · tropical — wet & dry seasons climate
The best time to visit Mackay is August — its sunniest month (Sunshine Score 93/100), with September and July close behind. Mackay averages about 3,009 hours of sunshine a year. Daytime highs around 22°C / 72°F and roughly 20 mm of rain in August.
When is the best time to visit Mackay?
For sunshine, the best time to visit Mackay is August, then September and July. The dullest month is January (69/100, 224 mm of rain). The full month-by-month picture is in the table below.
How sunny is Mackay?
Mackay is one of the sunniest places on Earth: about 3,009 hours of sunshine a year. August (93/100) is noticeably better than January (69). It ranks #67 of 118 destinations in Australia for annual sunshine, below the national median of 3,071 hours. Rain has a clear season: the wettest stretch, around February, carries about 58% of the annual 1,169 mm.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 69 | 28° / 82°F | 26° / 79°F | 224 mm | 12 | 30° / 86°F |
| February | 69 | 28° / 82°F | 26° / 79°F | 253 mm | 12 | 30° / 86°F |
| March | 69 | 28° / 82°F | 26° / 79°F | 197 mm | 11 | 28° / 82°F |
| April | 81 | 26° / 79°F | 24° / 75°F | 87 mm | 9 | 26° / 79°F |
| May | 87 | 24° / 75°F | 22° / 72°F | 54 mm | 6 | 24° / 75°F |
| June | 88 | 22° / 72°F | 20° / 68°F | 50 mm | 5 | 22° / 72°F |
| July | 91 | 21° / 70°F | 19° / 66°F | 30 mm | 6 | 21° / 70°F |
| August | 93 | 22° / 72°F | 19° / 66°F | 20 mm | 7 | 21° / 70°F |
| September | 93 | 24° / 75°F | 21° / 70°F | 21 mm | 9 | 24° / 75°F |
| October | 91 | 25° / 77°F | 23° / 73°F | 33 mm | 11 | 26° / 79°F |
| November | 85 | 27° / 81°F | 24° / 75°F | 64 mm | 11 | 28° / 82°F |
| December | 72 | 28° / 82°F | 26° / 79°F | 136 mm | 12 | 29° / 84°F |
Sea temperature in Mackay by month
The sea off Mackay is warmest in January at around 30°C / 86°F, and coolest in July at 21°C / 70°F. The water sits at a comfortable 21°C or warmer roughly all year round. Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
Nearest destinations
Head-to-head
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Mackay: questions and answers
What kind of destination is Mackay?
Mackay is a beach resort in Australia with a tropical — wet & dry seasons climate — the sea reaches 30°C at its warmest and is swimmable (21°C+) year-round.
How many hours of sunshine does Mackay get a year?
Mackay gets about 3,009 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around August.
When is the best time to visit Mackay?
The sunniest time to visit Mackay is August, when the Sunshine Score peaks at 93/100 (with September and July close behind). Expect daytime highs around 22°C / 72°F.
What is the least sunny month in Mackay?
January is the least sunny month in Mackay, scoring 69/100 with about 224 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in Mackay?
The sea in Mackay ranges from about 21°C (July) to 30°C (January). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in Mackay?
The typical midday UV index in Mackay peaks around 12 (extreme) in January, easing to about 5 (moderate) in June. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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