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The Gold Coast sits on the east coast of Australia in southeastern Queensland, on a long stretch of surf beaches just south of Brisbane, at approximately 28.02°S, 153.40°E. It has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — warm, humid summers and mild, dry winters — moderated by the Pacific Ocean and the reliable sea breezes that make its beaches a year-round draw. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are reversed relative to the Northern.
Summer, from December to February, is warm to hot and humid, with January and February the warmest — average highs around 29°C — tempered by sea breezes off the Pacific. It is the wettest, most humid season, when afternoon and evening thunderstorms are common and the heaviest downpours fall, sometimes enhanced by the remnants of tropical cyclones or east-coast lows that can bring flooding rain and heavy surf to the coast.
Winter, from June to August, is mild, dry and sunny, with July the coolest month — average highs around 21–22°C and comfortable nights near 9–11°C. Frost is essentially unknown on the coast, days are warm and bright, and the low humidity and clear skies make this a very pleasant season — warm enough to enjoy the beach by day. This dry, sunny stretch is a favourite time to visit.
The Gold Coast is fairly wet, receiving on the order of 1,300–1,400 mm of rain a year, concentrated in the warmer months from December to March, when thunderstorms and occasional tropical systems bring the heaviest falls; winter and spring are markedly drier. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.
The Gold Coast's subtropical, beach-friendly climate — warm humid summers, mild sunny winters and reliable sea breezes — is the foundation of its reputation as a holiday coast. Its main weather hazards come in the warm season, when ex-tropical cyclones and intense east-coast low-pressure systems can bring torrential rain, flooding and dangerous surf, as in the major floods that periodically strike southeast Queensland.
To follow any single measurement in Gold Coast 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.