Will It Rain in Melbourne Today?

Melbourne is a carry-an-umbrella city: rain on roughly 29% of days

Melbourne records about 648mm of rain across roughly 106 wet days a year, which is a 29% chance on an average day. October is the wettest month at 67mm (10% of the annual total) and February the driest at 47mm. Local rain type: brief showers. Always carry layers AND an umbrella — Melbourne famously experiences 'four seasons in one day.' Showers can appear at any time, any month.

Chance of rain on an average day: 29%

Rainfall climatology for Melbourne. The live hour-by-hour answer for today loads at the top of this page from Open-Meteo and refreshes through the day — the figures below describe a typical year, not today.

Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.

Key numbers for Melbourne

Annual rainfall648mm
Rain days per year106
Odds on an average day29%
Wettest monthOctober — 67mm over 11 days
Driest monthFebruary — 47mm over 8 days
Rain typebrief showers
Best dry windowJanuary through March offers the warmest, driest conditions — though heat waves above 40°C are possible.
Worst rain windowOctober and November bring the most changeable conditions with spring storms and unpredictable swings.

What the data actually tells you

Wettest against driest

October delivers 43% more rain than February (67mm vs 47mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.

How concentrated the rain is

No single month holds more than 10% of the annual total, so rain in Melbourne is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.

Umbrella or jacket

Melbourne rain typically comes as discrete showers, so a compact umbrella and a flexible plan are usually enough.

Wet-day frequency

Rain falls on about 11 days in October against 8 in February — the frequency swing matters more for planning than the millimetre totals.

Monthly rainfall in Melbourne

Climate normals. Use them to judge whether today's live forecast at the top of the page is typical or unusual for the season.

MonthRainfallRain daysChance on a given dayHighs
January48mm827%26°C
February47mm827%26°C
March50mm827%24°C
April57mm930%21°C
May56mm930%18°C
June49mm827%15°C
July48mm827%13°C
August50mm827%13°C
September58mm930%15°C
October67mm1137%18°C
November60mm1033%21°C
December59mm1033%24°C

Planning around rain in Melbourne

How we turn rain data into a yes or no

Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For Melbourne we combine the hourly probability curve, expected volume in millimetres, and the city's own rainfall record into a single umbrella verdict.

FactorWeightWhat it measures
Hourly probability 40% Peak and sustained chance of measurable rain across the next 24 hours.
Expected volume 30% Total millimetres, which separates a passing shower from a genuine soaking.
Timing & duration 20% When rain starts, when it eases, and the longest continuous dry window.
Local rain type 10% Drizzle, brief showers, thunderstorms or monsoon — each needs different gear.

Live hourly values come from Open-Meteo and refresh through the day. Monthly rainfall figures are climate normals, so they describe a typical year rather than a forecast.

Frequently asked questions

How often does it rain in Melbourne?

Melbourne records rain on roughly 106 days a year — about a 29% chance on any given day — totalling around 648mm.

What is the rainiest month in Melbourne?

October, with about 67mm over 11 rain days. That is 10% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.

When is the driest time in Melbourne?

February is the driest month at 47mm across roughly 8 days. January through March offers the warmest, driest conditions — though heat waves above 40°C are possible.

Do I need an umbrella in Melbourne?

Always carry layers AND an umbrella — Melbourne famously experiences 'four seasons in one day.' Showers can appear at any time, any month.

Does a 40% rain probability mean it will rain for 40% of the day?

No. Probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm of rain falls at your location at some point in the period. Check the expected millimetres alongside it: 40% with 0.4mm is a passing shower, 40% with 12mm is a soaking.

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