climate, with mild, rainy winters (from June to August) and very mild summers (from December to March). Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed compared to the northern hemisphere.
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and is located in the southern part of the North Island, in the Cook Strait, which is
. In fact, Wellington is considered the windiest city in the world. On the plus side, pollution is virtually non-existent.
Given the location, at 41 degrees south latitude, Wellington is also the southernmost capital in the world.
Some suburbs are located on the hills west of the city, for example Brooklyn is at 140 meters (460 feet) and Karori at 170 meters (555 ft).
in Wellington amounts to 1,250 mm (49 in). The rainiest period is from May to August, which is also the one with the most frequent rains (12/13 days per month) and the lowest amount of sunshine (3/4 sunshine hours per day). Even in summer, however, it rains on average for 7 days per month.
in Wellington shines for about 2,000 hours a year, a level below which the climate can be considered as not sunny (for example, London has an average of 1,675 hours of sunshine per year and Madrid 2,835).
in Wellington is always cold, however, it reaches 17/18 °C (63/64 °F) from January to March.
is mild, the wind, which often blows, increases the sensation of cold. Furthermore, sometimes there can be quite cold periods, with lows just above freezing and highs of 8/10 °C (46/50 °F). At night, the temperature almost never drops below freezing. In July 1968 it dropped to -1 °C (30 °F).
Snow in Wellington is very rare, although there was a snowfall in August 2011, the most abundant since June 1976.
, there can be cool, windy and rainy days, with highs of 16/17 °C (61/63 °F). On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches 25/26 °C (77/79 °F). The heat record is 30 °C (86 °F).
, which can leave the tropical zone and head south. 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.
The best time to visit Wellington is the summer, from December to February, as it is the mildest and sunniest time of the year. However, even in summer there can be cool, rainy and windy periods.
In addition, it should be remembered that tropical cyclones or their remnants can come from time to time.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
18 °C, with a minimum of
15 °C and a maximum of
20.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7 °C in January 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
29 °C in January 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
26.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
February, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.2 °C, with a minimum of
15.2 °C and a maximum of
21.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
6.5 °C in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in February 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
24.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
March is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.8 °C, with a minimum of
14 °C and a maximum of
19.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
6.5 °C in March 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
24.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.6 °C, with a minimum of
11.9 °C and a maximum of
17.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
4.5 °C in April 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
23 °C in April 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
23.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13 °C, with a minimum of
10.5 °C and a maximum of
15.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in May 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
21 °C in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
120 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
24 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.8 °C, with a minimum of
8.5 °C and a maximum of
13.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
0 °C in June 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
18 °C in June 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
130 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
24.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10 °C, with a minimum of
7.5 °C and a maximum of
12.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0 °C in July 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
18 °C in July 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
135 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
23.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.4 °C, with a minimum of
8 °C and a maximum of
12.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.3 °C in August 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
18 °C in August 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
125 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
23.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.8 °C, with a minimum of
9.3 °C and a maximum of
14.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0 °C in September 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
22 °C in September 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
25.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13 °C, with a minimum of
10.4 °C and a maximum of
15.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
22 °C in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
110 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
27.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.6 °C, with a minimum of
11.8 °C and a maximum of
17.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
4 °C in November 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in November 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
27.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.8 °C, with a minimum of
13.9 °C and a maximum of
19.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
6.8 °C in December 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in December 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
26.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.