Climate - Hokitika (New Zealand)
Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
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Climate chart - Hokitika
The climate of Hokitika is oceanic, with mild winters (June to August), fairly cool summers (December to February), and very abundant and frequent rainfall throughout the year, although it decreases a little from January to March.
The small town is located on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand, the one beaten by the humid ocean winds all year round, at 42 degrees south latitude. To the east are the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs through the South Island and clearly separates the western side, which is very rainy, from the eastern one, which is quite dry.
Nearby, at the foot of the mountains, is the Hokitika Gorge, a popular tourist destination due to a suspension bridge over the Hokitika River.
In winter, sometimes there can be slightly cold periods, with lows around freezing or slightly below and highs of 8/10 °C (46/50 °F). The coldest record is -3.4 °C (25.9 °F) and was set in July 2001.
Snow in Hokitika is very rare. For example, in July 1931 newspapers reported a snowfall of 2 inches (5 cm), recalling that the previous one-inch snowfall occurred in late August 1877.
In summer, there can be cool, windy and rainy days, with highs of 17/18 °C (63/64 °F). Even when it's not raining, the ocean breeze increases the feeling of coolness.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches 25 °C (77 °F), and more rarely 28/29 °C (82/84 °F).
Best Time
The best time to visit Hokitika is the summer, from December to February, as it is the warmest and sunniest of the year. However, even in summer there can be cool, rainy and windy periods.
For swimming, the ocean is cold even in summer.
Hokitika - Climate data
In Hokitika, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 7.2 °C (45.0 °F), that of the warmest month (February) is of 15.8 °C (60.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.Hokitika - Average temperatures (1991-2005) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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| January | 11.7 | 19.5 | 15.6 | 53 | 67 | 60.1 |
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| February | 11.9 | 19.8 | 15.8 | 53 | 68 | 60.5 |
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| March | 10 | 18.4 | 14.2 | 50 | 65 | 57.6 |
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| April | 7.9 | 16.2 | 12 | 46 | 61 | 53.7 |
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| May | 6.4 | 14.3 | 10.4 | 44 | 58 | 50.6 |
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| June | 4 | 12.2 | 8.1 | 39 | 54 | 46.6 |
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| July | 2.8 | 11.7 | 7.2 | 37 | 53 | 45 |
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| August | 3.8 | 12.2 | 8 | 39 | 54 | 46.4 |
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| September | 5.8 | 13.7 | 9.8 | 42 | 57 | 49.6 |
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| October | 7.5 | 14.9 | 11.2 | 46 | 59 | 52.2 |
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| November | 8.4 | 16.2 | 12.3 | 47 | 61 | 54.1 |
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| December | 10.5 | 17.8 | 14.2 | 51 | 64 | 57.5 |
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| Year | 7.5 | 15.6 | 11.5 | 45.6 | 60 | 52.5 |
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In Hokitika, precipitation amounts to 2850 millimeters (112.2 inches) per year: it is therefore very abundant. It ranges from 180 mm (7.1 in) in the driest month (February) to 275 mm (10.8 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.Hokitika - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
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| January | 240 | 9.4 | 12 |
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| February | 180 | 7.1 | 10 |
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| March | 215 | 8.5 | 13 |
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| April | 235 | 9.3 | 13 |
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| May | 240 | 9.4 | 15 |
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| June | 250 | 9.8 | 14 |
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| July | 220 | 8.7 | 14 |
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| August | 230 | 9.1 | 15 |
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| September | 255 | 10 | 17 |
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| October | 275 | 10.8 | 17 |
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| November | 240 | 9.4 | 15 |
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| December | 270 | 10.6 | 16 |
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| Year | 2850 | 112.2 | 170 |
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At Hokitika, the sea temperature ranges from 13 °C (55 °F) in August, September to 18 °C (64 °F) in February. Here are the average sea temperatures.Hokitika - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
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January | 17.5 | 64 | February | 18 | 65 | March | 17.5 | 64 | April | 16.5 | 62 | May | 15 | 59 | June | 14 | 57 | July | 13.5 | 56 | August | 13 | 55 | September | 13 | 55 | October | 13.5 | 56 | November | 14.5 | 58 | December | 16 | 61 | Year | 15.2 | 59.3 |
In Hokitika, there are on average around 1880 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Hokitika - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
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January | 7 | 210 | February | 6.5 | 190 | March | 5.5 | 170 | April | 4.5 | 140 | May | 4 | 120 | June | 3.5 | 105 | July | 4 | 125 | August | 4.5 | 140 | September | 5 | 145 | October | 5.5 | 165 | November | 6 | 180 | December | 6.5 | 195 | Year | 5.1 | 1880 |
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