Alice Springs weather by month
Sunny, dry, all year20°C winter days, 37°C summers, and 283mm of rain a year.
Warm, dry days all year, and a big swing between seasons. Alice Springs Airport averages 36.6°C by day in January, the hottest month, and 19.9°C in July, the coolest, when nights drop to 3.9°C. Rain is light: about 283mm in a whole year, with January the wettest at 42mm and August the driest at 8mm. May to September brings 20 to 28°C walking weather and clear, cold nights; October to March is the hot season, with early starts, swimmable gorges and the quietest trips.
Checked on 28 October 2026.
Alice Springs sits in the middle of the continent, so its weather is desert weather: sunny, dry and a long way between day and night. In July the gap is 16°C. Here is every month, from 84 years of Bureau of Meteorology records.
Alice Springs month by month
| Month | Day | Night | Rain | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36.6°C | 21.6°C | 41.8mm | The hottest and wettest month. Dawn starts, gorge swims and the Centre at its quietest |
| February | 35.3°C | 20.7°C | 40.7mm | Hot days and warm nights. the wettest stretch of the year, and the desert at its greenest |
| March | 32.9°C | 17.7°C | 33.1mm | Cooling off. Warm days and mild evenings |
| April | 28.4°C | 12.6°C | 16.7mm | A sweet spot. Warm days, mild nights, quiet |
| May | 23.1°C | 8.1°C | 18.3mm | Perfect walking weather begins |
| June | 19.9°C | 4.9°C | 12.8mm | Cool, clear days and crisp starry nights |
| July | 19.9°C | 3.9°C | 13.8mm | The coolest month. Sunny days, the clearest night skies |
| August | 22.9°C | 5.9°C | 8.0mm | The driest month. Warming days, ideal for walking |
| September | 27.5°C | 10.3°C | 8.8mm | A sweet spot. Warm and almost rainless |
| October | 31.3°C | 14.9°C | 19.6mm | Warm days, mild nights, and the gorges good for a swim |
| November | 33.8°C | 17.9°C | 32.2mm | Summer arriving. Early starts and long, warm evenings |
| December | 35.6°C | 20.3°C | 37.4mm | Hot and quiet, the best value of the year |
Bureau of Meteorology long-term monthly averages for Alice Springs Airport, station 015590, from 84 years of records.
Alice, Uluru and Kings Canyon compared
Most trips from Alice head out to Uluru and Kings Canyon, so here is the daytime average at all three. Uluru runs a degree or two warmer than Alice by day, and Kings Canyon is close to Uluru.
| Month | Alice Springs | Uluru | Kings Canyon |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36.6°C | 38.6°C | 38.2°C |
| February | 35.3°C | 37.2°C | 37.2°C |
| March | 32.9°C | 34.8°C | 34.5°C |
| April | 28.4°C | 30.0°C | 30.3°C |
| May | 23.1°C | 24.3°C | 24.7°C |
| June | 19.9°C | 20.5°C | 21.3°C |
| July | 19.9°C | 20.8°C | 21.6°C |
| August | 22.9°C | 24.0°C | 24.4°C |
| September | 27.5°C | 28.9°C | 29.4°C |
| October | 31.3°C | 32.7°C | 32.9°C |
| November | 33.8°C | 35.0°C | 34.8°C |
| December | 35.6°C | 36.8°C | 36.4°C |
Bureau of Meteorology long-term averages of the daily maximum. Alice Springs Airport (015590, 84 years), Yulara Airport for Uluru (015635, 39 years) and Watarrka for Kings Canyon (015652, 25 years).
Quick answers
- How hot is Alice Springs in summer?December to February averages 35 to 37°C by day and 20 to 22°C at night. The trips start at dawn, and it is the quietest and greenest time in the Centre.
- Is Alice Springs cold in winter?Not by day: June and July average 19.9°C, sunny and dry. The nights are cold, 3.9°C on average in July, so bring a warm layer for the evenings and the camps.
- Does it rain in Alice Springs?Not much. About 283mm in a year, about two thirds of it from November to March. August averages 8mm.
- Is Uluru hotter than Alice Springs?By a degree or two: 38.6°C against 36.6°C in January, 20.8°C against 19.9°C in July. Kings Canyon nights are the mildest of the three, 6.1°C in July against Alice's 3.9°C.
So which month?
- April and Septemberif you can choose freely: 28°C days, mild nights and very little rain.
- May to Augustfor the best walking weather, sunny 20 to 23°C days and the clearest night skies of the year.
- October to Marchfor the gorges at their best for a swim, early-morning walks and the Centre at its quietest.
There is more on what each season means for the walks and the trips on our best time to visit Alice Springs page, and Uluru month by month on what is Uluru like month by month.
3 Day West MacDonnell Rangesfrom $5353 days, 2 nightsSwags3 days. The West and East MacDonnell RangesView trip
3 Day Uluru Adventurefrom $7593 days, 2 nightsSwags3 days. Uluru and Kings Canyon from AliceView trip
5 Day Uluru Safarifrom $14995 days, 4 nightsSwags & Safari Tents5 days. Uluru, Kings Canyon and both MacDonnellsView trip
4 Day Uluru & West MacDonnell Rangesfrom $13894 days, 3 nightsSafari Tents or Swags4 days. Uluru and the West MacDonnellsView tripPeople also ask
- When is the best time to visit Alice Springs?
- What can you do from Alice Springs?
- How do I get from Alice Springs to Uluru?
- Can you do the West MacDonnell Ranges as a day trip from Alice Springs?
Where this comes from. Temperatures and rainfall are Bureau of Meteorology long-term monthly averages for Alice Springs Airport, station 015590, from 84 years of records, with Yulara Airport, station 015635, 39 years, for Uluru and Watarrka, station 015652, 25 years, for Kings Canyon. Trip lengths, where they go and prices are each trip's own details as held on its page here, and prices update on their own.