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Best time to visit Adelaide

The best time to visit Adelaide is October–April, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

°C

mm

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  • Average daily high and low
  • Precipitation
  • Good month
  • Best month
  • Made good or best by an event
Average daily high and low temperature, average precipitation and each month's verdict
MonthAverage daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitationVerdict
January24.9 °C / 77 °F17.1 °C / 63 °F22 mm / 0.9 inbest month
February24.3 °C / 76 °F17 °C / 63 °F15 mm / 0.6 inbest month
March23 °C / 73 °F16.3 °C / 61 °F17 mm / 0.7 inbest month
April19.8 °C / 68 °F14.2 °C / 58 °F37 mm / 1.5 inbest month
May16.5 °C / 62 °F12.1 °C / 54 °F54 mm / 2.1 ingood month
June13.9 °C / 57 °F10.1 °C / 50 °F54 mm / 2.1 ingood month
July13.1 °C / 56 °F9.3 °C / 49 °F65 mm / 2.6 ingood month
August13.9 °C / 57 °F9.4 °C / 49 °F55 mm / 2.2 ingood month
September15.9 °C / 61 °F10.3 °C / 51 °F45 mm / 1.8 ingood month
October18.4 °C / 65 °F11.7 °C / 53 °F31 mm / 1.2 inbest month
November20.6 °C / 69 °F13.6 °C / 56 °F31 mm / 1.2 inbest month
December22.7 °C / 73 °F15.2 °C / 59 °F25 mm / 1 inbest month
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen

Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:

  • Daytime highs
  • Night-time lows
  • How warm it feels
  • Humidity
  • How much of the day is sunny
  • Hours of daylight
  • Monthly rainfall
  • How many days it rains
  • Days of heavy rain
  • Wind
  • Snowfall and days with snow
  • Major events, such as festivals

The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.

The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.

Best months by activity

Exploring outdoors

Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.

  1. JJanuary: best
  2. FFebruary: best
  3. MMarch: best
  4. AApril: best
  5. MMay: good
  6. JJune: good
  7. JJuly: good
  8. AAugust: good
  9. SSeptember: good
  10. OOctober: best
  11. NNovember: best
  12. DDecember: best
Best
October–April
Good
May–September

October through April are warm, dry and sunny - the best stretch for exploring Adelaide on foot. May through September stays good rather than best: cooler air, more rain and cloud, and a distinctly duller, damper July.

Why these months

  • January · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 25.3 °C / 78 °F, average daily high 24.9 °C / 77 °F, precipitation 22 mm / 0.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, wet days 3.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, average daily low 17.1 °C / 63 °F, relative humidity 61%.

    Also on: Australia Day, Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval.

    Watch out for: Summer school holidays travel rush.

  • February · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, wet days 2 days, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, average daily low 17 °C / 63 °F, relative humidity 62%.

    Also on: Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Format Festival, Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval.

  • March · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 22.6 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 23 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 17 mm / 0.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 4 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 16.3 °C / 61 °F, relative humidity 64%.

    Also on: Adelaide 500 (Superloop Adelaide 500), Adelaide Cup horseracing carnival, Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Format Festival, WOMADelaide.

    Watch out for: Easter long weekend travel rush.

  • April · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 18.2 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.8 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 37 mm / 1.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, wet days 5.7 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, average daily low 14.2 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 67%.

    Watch out for: ANZAC Day closures, Easter long weekend travel rush.

  • May · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 84%, feels like (high) 14.2 °C / 58 °F, average daily high 16.5 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 12.1 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 73%.

    Against: wet days 8.9 days, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, precipitation 54 mm / 2.1 in, sunshine per day 8.7 h.

  • June · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 82%, average daily high 13.9 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 10.1 °C / 50 °F.

    Against: feels like (high) 11.1 °C / 52 °F, relative humidity 77%, wet days 9.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, precipitation 54 mm / 2.1 in, sunshine per day 8.1 h.

    Also on: AFL home games at Adelaide Oval.

  • July · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 83%, average daily high 13.1 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 9.3 °C / 49 °F.

    Against: feels like (high) 10 °C / 50 °F, wet days 11.2 days, relative humidity 78%, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, precipitation 65 mm / 2.6 in, sunshine per day 8.3 h.

    Also on: AFL home games at Adelaide Oval.

  • August · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 84%, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, average daily high 13.9 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 9.4 °C / 49 °F.

    Against: feels like (high) 10.8 °C / 51 °F, wet days 10.6 days, relative humidity 76%, precipitation 55 mm / 2.2 in.

    Also on: AFL home games at Adelaide Oval.

  • September · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 87%, feels like (high) 13.4 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 71%.

    Against: wet days 8.8 days, precipitation 45 mm / 1.8 in.

  • October · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 16.8 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18.4 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 31 mm / 1.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, wet days 6.1 days, average daily low 11.7 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 66%.

  • November · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 19.8 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 20.6 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 31 mm / 1.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, wet days 5.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily low 13.6 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 65%.

  • December · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 22.4 °C / 72 °F, average daily high 22.7 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 25 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, wet days 4.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, average daily low 15.2 °C / 59 °F, relative humidity 61%.

    Also on: Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval.

    Watch out for: Christmas Day closures, Summer school holidays travel rush.

Beach and swimming

Hot, dry and sunny. Penalises the monsoon hard.

  1. JJanuary: good
  2. FFebruary: good
  3. MMarch: good
  4. AApril: neither
  5. MMay: neither
  6. JJune: neither
  7. JJuly: neither
  8. AAugust: neither
  9. SSeptember: neither
  10. OOctober: neither
  11. NNovember: neither
  12. DDecember: good
Good
December–March

Summer (December-March) gives Adelaide's beaches warm, dry, sunny days, but the sea itself never gets very warm, so it tops out at good. From April through November both air and sea turn too cool for a comfortable beach day.

Why these months

  • January · good

    In its favour: precipitation 22 mm / 0.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, average daily high 24.9 °C / 77 °F, wet days 3.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, feels like (high) 25.3 °C / 78 °F, average daily low 17.1 °C / 63 °F, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 15 mph.

    Against: sea temperature 22.9 °C / 73 °F.

    Also on: Australia Day, Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval.

    Watch out for: Summer school holidays travel rush.

  • February · good

    In its favour: precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, wet days 2 days, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, average daily low 17 °C / 63 °F, wind (daily max) 24 km/h / 15 mph.

    Against: sea temperature 22.7 °C / 73 °F.

    Also on: Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Format Festival, Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval.

  • March · good

    In its favour: precipitation 17 mm / 0.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 4 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily high 23 °C / 73 °F, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph, average daily low 16.3 °C / 61 °F.

    Against: sea temperature 22.6 °C / 73 °F, feels like (high) 22.6 °C / 73 °F.

    Also on: Adelaide 500 (Superloop Adelaide 500), Adelaide Cup horseracing carnival, Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Format Festival, WOMADelaide.

    Watch out for: Easter long weekend travel rush.

  • December · good

    In its favour: precipitation 25 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, wet days 4.3 days, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 15 mph, average daily low 15.2 °C / 59 °F.

    Against: sea temperature 21.1 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 22.7 °C / 73 °F, feels like (high) 22.4 °C / 72 °F.

    Also on: Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval.

    Watch out for: Christmas Day closures, Summer school holidays travel rush.

Hiking and trekking

Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.

  1. JJanuary: best
  2. FFebruary: best
  3. MMarch: best
  4. AApril: best
  5. MMay: good
  6. JJune: good
  7. JJuly: good
  8. AAugust: good
  9. SSeptember: good
  10. OOctober: best
  11. NNovember: best
  12. DDecember: best
Best
October–April
Good
May–September

October-April is the best hiking window: dry trails, long daylight and comfortable warmth. May-September stays good since the cooler air still suits climbing, but more rain, more wet days and shorter daylight keep it just short of best.

Why these months

  • January · best

    In its favour: precipitation 22 mm / 0.9 in, wet days 3.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, average daily high 24.9 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, daylight per day 14.2 h, feels like (high) 25.3 °C / 78 °F, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 15 mph.

    Against: average daily low 17.1 °C / 63 °F.

    Also on: Australia Day, Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval.

    Watch out for: Summer school holidays travel rush.

  • February · best

    In its favour: precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, wet days 2 days, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, daylight per day 13.4 h, feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 24 km/h / 15 mph, average daily low 17 °C / 63 °F.

    Also on: Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Format Festival, Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval.

  • March · best

    In its favour: average daily high 23 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 17 mm / 0.7 in, wet days 4 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, daylight per day 12.3 h, feels like (high) 22.6 °C / 73 °F, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph, average daily low 16.3 °C / 61 °F.

    Also on: Adelaide 500 (Superloop Adelaide 500), Adelaide Cup horseracing carnival, Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Format Festival, WOMADelaide.

    Watch out for: Easter long weekend travel rush.

  • April · best

    In its favour: average daily high 19.8 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 37 mm / 1.5 in, wet days 5.7 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, feels like (high) 18.2 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, average daily low 14.2 °C / 58 °F, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 22 km/h / 14 mph.

    Watch out for: ANZAC Day closures, Easter long weekend travel rush.

  • May · good

    In its favour: average daily high 16.5 °C / 62 °F, feels like (high) 14.2 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 12.1 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph, daylight per day 10.3 h.

    Against: wet days 8.9 days, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, precipitation 54 mm / 2.1 in, sunshine per day 8.7 h.

  • June · good

    In its favour: average daily high 13.9 °C / 57 °F, feels like (high) 11.1 °C / 52 °F, average daily low 10.1 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.

    Against: wet days 9.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, precipitation 54 mm / 2.1 in, sunshine per day 8.1 h, daylight per day 9.8 h.

    Also on: AFL home games at Adelaide Oval.

  • July · good

    In its favour: average daily high 13.1 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 9.3 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, feels like (high) 10 °C / 50 °F, wind (daily max) 26 km/h / 16 mph, daylight per day 10.1 h.

    Against: wet days 11.2 days, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, precipitation 65 mm / 2.6 in, sunshine per day 8.3 h.

    Also on: AFL home games at Adelaide Oval.

  • August · good

    In its favour: average daily high 13.9 °C / 57 °F, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, average daily low 9.4 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, feels like (high) 10.8 °C / 51 °F, daylight per day 10.8 h, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 16 mph.

    Against: wet days 10.6 days, precipitation 55 mm / 2.2 in.

    Also on: AFL home games at Adelaide Oval.

  • September · good

    In its favour: average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, feels like (high) 13.4 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, daylight per day 11.9 h, wind (daily max) 26 km/h / 16 mph.

    Against: wet days 8.8 days, precipitation 45 mm / 1.8 in.

  • October · best

    In its favour: average daily high 18.4 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 31 mm / 1.2 in, wet days 6.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, feels like (high) 16.8 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 11.7 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, daylight per day 13 h, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 16 mph.

  • November · best

    In its favour: average daily high 20.6 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 31 mm / 1.2 in, wet days 5.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, feels like (high) 19.8 °C / 68 °F, average daily low 13.6 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, daylight per day 13.9 h, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 15 mph.

  • December · best

    In its favour: average daily high 22.7 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 25 mm / 1 in, wet days 4.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, daylight per day 14.5 h, feels like (high) 22.4 °C / 72 °F, average daily low 15.2 °C / 59 °F, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 15 mph.

    Also on: Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval.

    Watch out for: Christmas Day closures, Summer school holidays travel rush.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Mount Buller, 745 km away.

Weather averages

Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Feels like (high) 25.3 °C24.5 °C22.6 °C18.2 °C14.2 °C11.1 °C10 °C10.8 °C13.4 °C16.8 °C19.8 °C22.4 °C
Days with heavy rain 0.6 days0.4 days0.3 days1.1 days1.6 days1.6 days1.7 days1.2 days0.9 days0.7 days0.8 days0.5 days
Time rain usually falls 4 pm4 pm2 pm9 am1 pm5 am4 pm2 pm4 pm12 am2 am12 am
Sunshine per day 12.8 h12 h11 h9.6 h8.7 h8.1 h8.3 h9.2 h10.3 h11.5 h12 h12.7 h
Relative humidity 61%62%64%67%73%77%78%76%71%66%65%61%

Sea temperature

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sea temperature 2022–202522.9 °C22.7 °C22.6 °C19.5 °C16.5 °C14 °C12.6 °C13.1 °C14.9 °C17.4 °C19.2 °C21.1 °C
Sea temperature (daily max) 2022–202523.2 °C23.1 °C22.9 °C19.7 °C16.7 °C14.2 °C12.7 °C13.3 °C15.2 °C17.7 °C19.5 °C21.5 °C
  • Very cold 10 °C or less
  • Cold 10 to 15 °C
  • Cool 15 to 20 °C
  • Comfortable 20 to 25 °C
  • Warm 25 to 28 °C
  • Very warm over 28 °C

The words describe how the water feels to swim in. They are ours, not an official standard.

Air quality

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–20255.5 µg/m³5.5 µg/m³4.6 µg/m³4.6 µg/m³4.4 µg/m³4.2 µg/m³4.4 µg/m³4.6 µg/m³5.6 µg/m³5.9 µg/m³5.3 µg/m³5.3 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–20257.9 µg/m³7.8 µg/m³6.7 µg/m³7 µg/m³6.9 µg/m³6.9 µg/m³7.8 µg/m³7.5 µg/m³8.5 µg/m³9.8 µg/m³7.8 µg/m³7.8 µg/m³
  • Good 15 µg/m³ or less
  • Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
  • Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
  • Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
  • Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
  • Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³

Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.

Events and seasons

What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.

Reasons to go

  • Test cricket internationals at Adelaide Oval

    January, February and December

  • Australia Day

    26 January

  • Adelaide Fringe Festival

    20 February–31 March

  • Adelaide Festival

    20 February–31 March

  • Format Festival

    February and March

  • WOMADelaide

    March

  • Adelaide 500 (Superloop Adelaide 500)

    11–20 March

  • Adelaide Cup horseracing carnival

    March

  • AFL home games at Adelaide Oval

    June, July and August

Worth knowing before you go

  • Summer school holidays travel rush

    15 December–31 January

  • Easter long weekend travel rush

    March and April, dates vary from year to year

  • ANZAC Day closures

    25 April

  • Christmas Day closures

    25 December

Other places in Australia

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar

Monthly averages over 2006–2025, unless stated otherwise.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0), generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5). City data from GeoNames (CC-BY 4.0). Air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and sea temperature from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, both via Open-Meteo.com. Coastline from Natural Earth. Ski areas from OpenSkiMap.org, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Skimap.org. World Heritage sites from Wikidata (CC0), from the World Heritage List © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Readership from Wikimedia pageview data (CC0). Destination classification derived from English Wikivoyage, © Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).