Climate - New Zealand

The climate in detail

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• Introduction
• North Island - Auckland, Wellington
• South Island - Southern Alps, West coast, East coast, Central Otago, Far South
• The small islands
• Cyclones
• When to go
• What to pack

Introduction

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The country is made up of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, plus several smaller islands.
The weather is often variable, and there can be sunshine and rain alternating in a few hours, as is typical of oceanic climates.
Rainfall is quite frequent throughout the year, but it is usually more frequent in winter than in summer, except in the extreme south (see Invercargill), where it is frequent even in summer. In the South Island, crossed by high mountains, the rains are much more abundant on the western side than on the eastern one.
The amount of sunshine is not exceptional, but it's acceptable in summer, at least in the north, where there is a good number of sunny days. On average, there are about 2,000/2,200 hours of sunshine per year in the center-north and 1,700 in the far south.
In summer, it rarely gets hot, however, occasionally the temperature can reach or exceed 35 °C (95 °F) in January and February in the eastern part of both islands, while on the west coasts the records are about 30 °C (86 °F).
From May to October, cold air masses from Antarctica can reach New Zealand, bringing greater effects to the South Island, with snow and frost in winter, especially in inland areas. Cold records range from 0 °C (32 °F) in the far north, to -2/-3 °C (27/28 °F) on the west coast of the South Island, to -5/-6 °C (21/23 °F) on the east coast, to -8/-9 °C (16/18 °F) in the extreme south, while they are below -15 °C (5 °F) in the inland areas of the south.
In the southern part of the South Island, a bit of cold air can arrive even in summer. However, cold spells typically last a few days.

North Island

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In the North Island, winters are mild everywhere, while summers are very mild in the south and west (see Wellington, New Plymouth) and pleasantly warm in the north and east coast (see Auckland, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier). The average temperature in January and February ranges from 18 to 20 °C (64/68 °F), while that of July ranges from 9 to 11 °C (48 to 52 °F). Precipitation reaches 1,400 mm (55 in) per year on the west coast, while it ranges from 800 to 1,200 mm (31 to 47 in) per year on the eastern and southern coasts.

Auckland

In Auckland, in the northern part of the island, at 37 degrees south latitude, the average temperature ranges from 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) in July to 20.5 °C (69 °F) in February.
Here are the average temperatures.

Rainfall is fairly abundant, since it amounts to 1,200 millimeters (47 inches) per year, and it's well distributed over the months. However, the rainiest season is winter, from June to August.
Near Auckland, the temperature of the sea is very cool, however, it reaches 20/21 °C (68/70 °F) from January to March, when those who do not suffer from the cold can try to swim.

Wellington

The capital, Wellington, is located in the southern part of the island, in the Cook Strait, which separates the two islands and is very windy. The climate is similar to that of Auckland, although the temperatures are slightly lower.
Winter is mild, the average temperature in July being 10 °C (50 °F). Summer is cool: the average in February is 18 °C (64 °F). On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches 25/26 °C (77/79 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

Annual precipitation in Wellington is similar to that of Auckland and amounts to 1,250 mm (49 in). The rainiest period is from May to August.
The sea in Wellington is always cold, however, it reaches 17/18 °C (63/64 °F) from January to March.



In the interior of the North Island, there are hills and also a mountain, Ruapehu, where you can go skiing in winter, and on top of which, above 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), eternal snows are found.

South Island

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The South Island is cooler and is exposed to the westerly winds, which sweep the southern seas around Antarctica and blow for most of the year. In winter, however, snow and frost may occur, due to cold air masses of polar origin, especially in the southern part.

Southern Alps

This island is crossed by the Southern Alps, which culminate in Mount Cook/Aoraki, 3,754 meters (12,316 feet) high. In the mountain range, there are eternal snows above 1,600 meters (6,500 ft). In the area of Mount Cook there are several glaciers (Tasman, Fox, Franz Josef etc.), while further south we find the Volta glacier, in the area of Mount Aspiring/Tititea, 3,033 meters (9,951 ft) high. Glaciers are retreating due to global warming.
In the central and southern areas of the South Island, there are ice tongues that descend from the mountains almost to sea level, and after turning into rivers, flow into the sea or feed lakes.

West coast

The western side is definitely wet, in fact, precipitation is between 2,000 and 3,500 mm (80 and 140 in) per year along the coast, where only towns and villages are found (see Karamea, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, Haast), and it's even higher on the western slopes, where it reaches as high as 6 meters (19.5 feet) per year.
The wind is frequent and intense, especially in the south-west, the area of the fjords.

Here are the average temperatures of Hokitika, located on the west coast. Here, 2,850 mm (112 in) of rain fall per year.

East coast

On the other hand, the side to the east of the mountains, where the main cities of the island are located, is definitely less rainy, in fact, precipitation decreases below 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, and some inland areas are even arid: in Alexandra, only 360 mm (14 in) of rain fall per year.
In this area, there can sometimes be sudden rises in temperature due to downslope, foehn-type winds that descend from the mountains. From December to March, with this wind the temperature can reach 35/36 °C (95/97 °F).

In Christchurch, located on the east coast, at 41 degrees south latitude, the average temperature ranges from 6 °C (43 °F) in July to 17 °C (63 °F) in January and February. Here are the average temperatures.

Christchurch receives 575 mm (23 in) of rain per year and is the driest between the major cities of New Zealand, even though the rains are still quite frequent. Here is the average precipitation.

The temperature of the sea on the South Island is always cold; near Christchurch, it ranges from 10 °C (50 °F) in the winter months to 15 °C (59 °F) in January and February.

Central Otago

During the winter, the lowest temperatures are reached in the southern inland areas, particularly in Central Otago, where there are a few towns, such as the aforementioned Alexandra, which, in addition to being dry, is also cold, with an average in July of only 3 °C (37.5 °F). Here, during cold waves, there may be intense frosts at night.
In particular, in the plain of Maniototo, from May to September the temperature can drop to -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. In the village of Ranfurly, a temperature of -25.6 °C (-14.1 °F) would have been reached in 1903, and if this value is correct, it is the absolute cold record in New Zealand. In more recent times, the record is -21.6 ºC (-6.9 °F), set in Ophir in July 1995.

Here are the average temperatures in Alexandra.

Far South

In the far south, exposed to the winds from the south and less protected by the mountains to the west (which are lower in this area), the climate is very cool, if not cold.

In Invercargill, near the south coast, the average temperature ranges from 5.5 °C (42 °F) in July to 14 °C (57 °F) in January and February. The city is very windy, and is the second windiest city in New Zealand after Wellington. Furthermore, the rains are frequent even in summer, and amount to 1,150 mm (45 in) per year.
Cold air masses from Antarctica can arrive all year round, and in all months the cold records are below freezing. In winter, from June to August, the temperature can drop to -7/-8 °C (18/19 °F), owing to the presence of the sea and the wind, during the day the temperature goes above freezing even on these occasions.
In summer, the temperature generally reaches 27/28 °C (81/82 °F) on the hottest days, but in recent years, it has occasionally exceeded 30 °C (86 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

The city of Dunedin, which is located in the south-east, is a little more sheltered from rain and wind, but all in all, it has a similar climate.

Small islands

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There are also some islands belonging to New Zealand, but far away from the main territory.
The Kermadec islands, located more than 950 kilometers (600 miles) north-east of the North Island, between 29 and 31 degrees south latitude, have a humid subtropical climate, mild and rainy.
The Chatham Islands, 850 km (530 mi) east of the South Island and at 44 degrees south latitude, have an oceanic climate, similar to certain areas of the South Island itself.
Campbell Island, 600 km (370 mi) south of the South Island and at 52 degrees south latitude, is an uninhabited island, definitely cold and windy all year round.

Tropical cyclones

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New Zealand is not located in the path of cyclones, but once in a while, a tropical cyclone, usually weakened, may reach these latitudes, usually affecting the North Island and the northernmost part of the South Island, bringing rain, wind, and storm surges. In the last few decades, tropical cyclones or their remains have affected New Zealand from mid-December to April 20, with a higher frequency from January to March.
Here are some cyclones that have affected New Zealand:
In early April 1968, Cyclone Giselle, formed by the collision of a tropical cyclone with cold air from the south, brought record gusts of wind to Wellington.
In early March 1988, Cyclone Bola brought high winds and record rainfall to the North Island.
Around mid-February 2022, Cyclone Dovi hit the North Island and the northern part of the South Island.
Around mid-February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle hit the North Island hard, causing widespread flooding.

When to go

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The best time to visit New Zealand is the austral summer, from December to March. It is a pleasantly warm season in the North Island, and cool in the South Island.
It should be remembered that even in this season it can rain, in the North Island it can get cool at night, and in the South Island it can get cold.
Furthermore, it must be said that every now and then a tropical cyclone can arrive, or its remnants, which can affect the North Island and the northernmost part of the South Island.

If you want to visit the country in winter, for example in August, you can choose the North Island, which is milder and more sheltered from cold waves, and maybe you can combine the exploration of the cities with a bit of skiing in the mountains.

What to pack

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In winter (June to August): for the North Island, Auckland, and Wellington, bring spring/autumn clothes, a sweater, a jacket, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the South Island, bring warm clothes, such as a down jacket, a scarf, a hat, and a raincoat. For high mountains, mountain clothing.
In summer (December to February): for the North Island, Auckland, and Wellington, and the South Island down to Christchurch, bring light clothes for the day, a sweatshirt and a light jacket for the evening, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the south, spring/autumn clothes, a sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the Southern Alps, warm mountain clothing.

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