Michaelmas Cay Water Temperature
Updated Thu 11:21 (Australia/Brisbane)
Australia · Forecast updated Sep 17, 2026, 11:21 UTC
Current Sea Temperature
23.7°C
74.7°F
Mild water
Valid Sep 17, 2026, 11:21 (Australia/Brisbane). Source: stored Open-Meteo marine forecast. Temperature is not a safety rating or snorkel score.
Versus this month's average
1.0°C below
The typical September average is 24.7°C (76.5°F) from the historical baseline.
Recent trend
At least two weeks of records are needed before showing a reliable trend.
What to wear
Mild water
A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Cold tolerance varies. Wind, session length, sunshine, and exertion also affect comfort; temperature alone does not describe sea conditions or replace the snorkel forecast.
Typical Sea Temperature Over the Year
In the historical baseline for Michaelmas Cay, typical monthly averages range from about 23.6°C (74.5°F) in August to 29.6°C (85.3°F) in January.
Over the past 30 days, the average sea temperature in Michaelmas Cay has been 23.7°C.
Historical baseline (full year)
Southern Hemisphere. Summer is generally December–February; winter is June–August.
Typical monthly sea-surface temperature near Michaelmas Cay, calculated from hourly observations for 2023–2025. This is not this site's forecast archive.
| Month | Typical range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| January | 29.1–29.9°C | 29.6°C / 85.3°F |
| February | 29.0–30.0°C | 29.5°C / 85.1°F |
| March | 28.9–29.2°C | 29.0°C / 84.2°F |
| April | 27.9–28.9°C | 28.3°C / 82.9°F |
| May | 25.7–26.1°C | 25.9°C / 78.6°F |
| June | 24.4–24.9°C | 24.6°C / 76.3°F |
| July | 23.8–24.3°C | 24.0°C / 75.2°F |
| August | 23.4–24.1°C | 23.6°C / 74.5°F |
| September | 24.4–25.1°C | 24.7°C / 76.5°F |
| October | 25.6–26.8°C | 26.2°C / 79.2°F |
| November | 26.8–28.7°C | 27.7°C / 81.9°F |
| December | 28.0–29.3°C | 28.7°C / 83.7°F |
Source: Open-Meteo Marine API, MeteoFrance sea-surface temperature dataset. Nearest sea grid cell (-16.63, 145.96). Each month is the mean of yearly monthly means; the range is the lowest and highest of those yearly monthly means. Open-Meteo methodology.
Water temperature by month
Each month uses the 2023–2025 baseline. The range is the lowest and highest yearly monthly mean, not an hourly extreme.
Michaelmas Cay in January
Typical January water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 29.6°C (85.3°F), with yearly monthly means from 29.1–29.9°C.
Michaelmas Cay in February
Typical February water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 29.5°C (85.1°F), with yearly monthly means from 29.0–30.0°C.
Michaelmas Cay in March
Typical March water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 29.0°C (84.2°F), with yearly monthly means from 28.9–29.2°C.
Michaelmas Cay in April
Typical April water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 28.3°C (82.9°F), with yearly monthly means from 27.9–28.9°C.
Michaelmas Cay in May
Typical May water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 25.9°C (78.6°F), with yearly monthly means from 25.7–26.1°C.
Michaelmas Cay in June
Typical June water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 24.6°C (76.3°F), with yearly monthly means from 24.4–24.9°C.
Michaelmas Cay in July
Typical July water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 24.0°C (75.2°F), with yearly monthly means from 23.8–24.3°C.
Michaelmas Cay in August
Typical August water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 23.6°C (74.5°F), with yearly monthly means from 23.4–24.1°C.
Michaelmas Cay in September
Typical September water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 24.7°C (76.5°F), with yearly monthly means from 24.4–25.1°C.
Michaelmas Cay in October
Typical October water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 26.2°C (79.2°F), with yearly monthly means from 25.6–26.8°C.
Michaelmas Cay in November
Typical November water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 27.7°C (81.9°F), with yearly monthly means from 26.8–28.7°C.
Michaelmas Cay in December
Typical December water temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 28.7°C (83.7°F), with yearly monthly means from 28.0–29.3°C.
Forecast archive (growing)
These values come from hourly forecasts SnorkelForecast has stored. They cover only months with records and do not replace the historical baseline.
| Month | Min | Average | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | 23.3°C / 73.9°F | 23.5°C / 74.3°F | 23.7°C / 74.7°F |
Partial coverage: 1 calendar months with records. Profile calculated from 74 hourly forecast records across 1 monthly periods. This is a growing archive, not a long-term climate normal.
About the water at Michaelmas Cay
Outer-reef sand cay off Cairns used for lagoon snorkeling beside a seabird sanctuary.
- Area
- Queensland
Michaelmas Cay Water Temperature: Common Questions
What is the water temperature in Michaelmas Cay today?
The current sea surface temperature near Michaelmas Cay is 23.7°C (74.7°F). Over the last 30 days, the average has been 23.7°C.
When is the water warmest in Michaelmas Cay?
The water is typically warmest in January, at around 29.6°C (85.3°F) in the 2023–2025 historical baseline.
When is the water coldest in Michaelmas Cay?
The water is typically coldest in August, at around 23.6°C (74.5°F) in the same historical baseline.
Can you swim in Michaelmas Cay today?
At 23.7°C, the water is usually comfortable for swimming and snorkeling.
Full Snorkeling Forecast
See how today's sea temperature, wave height, wind, and tides combine into a detailed snorkeling score for Michaelmas Cay.
View Snorkel Forecast →