Broome weather and climate information for visitors

Located to the extreme far North of Western Australia and fairly close to the border of the nearby Northern Territory, Broome is a town with weather and a climate typical of those located in the tropics; hot, humid and with only two real "seasons" - the wet and dry seasons, with each extending to roughly half the year (depending on the erratic yearly rainfall tendencies).

A very hot destination overall, those who prefer cooler climes would be advised to stay away, however those who prefer their weather hot will have a wonderful time enjoying the lovely beaches and exploring the nearby marvellous geographical features and gorges for which the area has become famous; so much so that the entire town's population actually usually triples during the tourist peak seasons!

Broome has one of the highest annual average temperatures of any popular tourist destination on the entire Australian continent. The yearly average maximum temperature is a scorching 32.2°C (90°F), while the average minimum throughout the course of the year is still a warm 21.2°C (70.2°F); surprisingly the coldest months can drop down considerably, and the lowest temperature ever recorded was 3.3°C (37.9°F) - in a direct contrast with the historical maximum high of a sweltering 44.8°C (112.6°F).

Rainfall in the region is extremely unpredictable from year to year; one year may receive a huge amount of thunderstorms leading to resultant downpours, while in another it may barely rain at all. As with most other tropical climates, the heaviest months in terms of rainfall are January through March; in fact, 76% of the year's entire rainfall volume usually falls within this span.

As mentioned, Broome does not truly have "four seasons"; they are simply separated by the "wet" and the "dry", making the regular calendar definition of seasons rather worthless. The wet and dry seasons do, obviously however, show rather large differences in characteristics, with not only the amount of rain but also the drops in minimum temperature showing a huge gulf between the maximum that only occurs on irregular, sporadic occasions. Thus, when discussing Broome it is pointless to talk in terms of Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring - and instead we shall focus on the wet and the dry.

Extending from the months of December through to March, the wet season is an extremely hot and humid environment that can prove stifling at times, as the humidity is a sweat-inducer; swimming in the beautiful nearby Cable Beach is a great way to cool off, and is a popular destination due to its lengths of dazzling white sand that is washed clean daily by tides that can reach over 9m in length.

Torrential downpours that occur suddenly and heavily are common, making a strong umbrella a sound investment; thunderstorms that usually soon follow can prove to be one of the most spectacular natural light shows that the country has to offer.

Lasting from around April until October, the dry season leads to days of near-endless clear blue skies and sunny days with humidity levels that are markedly lower than in the wet season, making this the ideal period in which to holiday in Broome. This season however also coincides with a rush of fellow tourists flocking to the town from colder areas to escape their Winters, thus it is important to book accommodation well in advance.

Nights are cooler with overnight temperatures averaging in the teens and making getting a sound night's sleep much, much easier! If you want to see the best of Broome, this is definitely the date range we recommend you visit.

In addition, if you are looking for further ideas on activities, attractions and other things to do in Broome, don't hesitate to check out our main Broome region page for an extended catalogue of options, general information and much more!