Canberra, Australia's capital, sits inland in the southeast of the country, on a plain among hills at around 580 metres above sea level and well away from the moderating coast, at approximately 35.28°S, 149.13°E. Its elevation and inland position give it a temperate climate (Köppen Cfb) with warm, dry summers and cold, frosty winters — a wider temperature range than the coastal cities — and four distinct seasons. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are reversed relative to the Northern.

Summer, from December to February, is warm to hot and dry, with January the warmest month — average highs around 28–29°C — and heatwaves, sometimes driven by hot winds off the interior, that can push temperatures past 40°C. The low humidity and elevation bring cool nights, giving a large day-to-night swing. Rain in summer comes mainly as occasional afternoon thunderstorms, and hot, dry spells raise the bushfire risk in the surrounding hills.

Winter, from June to August, is cold by Australian standards, with July the coolest month — average highs around 11–12°C and nights that regularly fall below freezing, near -1 to 0°C, making Canberra one of the frostiest Australian cities. Frost and morning fog are common, and while snow falls only rarely in the city, the nearby Snowy Mountains are reliably snow-covered. Days are often crisp, still and sunny.

Canberra is relatively dry, receiving around 600–620 mm of rain a year, spread fairly evenly through the year with a slight spring and summer emphasis from thunderstorms; there is no pronounced wet or dry season. Its inland, mountain-sheltered position keeps totals modest. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Canberra's inland elevation is the key to its climate, giving it the hot summer days, cold frosty winter nights and large day-to-night temperature range that set it apart from the milder coastal capitals. Winter fog is a regular feature of the still, cold mornings, and the surrounding bush means that hot, dry, windy summer spells bring a real bushfire threat, as in the devastating fires of January 2003.

To follow any single measurement in Canberra more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.