Christchurch Climate & Weather Averages
New Zealand · Oceanic climate · Data averaged from 2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31 (5 years)
Best Time to Visit Christchurch
Based on temperature comfort, low rainfall, and sunshine hours, the best months to visit Christchurch are:
January, February, December
Scores based on ideal temperature (18-28°C), low precipitation, and high sunshine. January scores 53/100.
Christchurch has a Oceanic climate with mild summers and cold winters. The warmest month is January with an average temperature of 17.2°C (63.0°F), while July is the coldest at 7.4°C (45.3°F). Annual precipitation averages 673.0mm spread across approximately 171.0 rainy days per year, with July being the wettest month at 87.4mm and January the driest at 32.3mm. The city receives an average of 5.4-12.0 hours of sunshine per day, with the sunniest months being January and November. Humidity remains relatively consistent throughout the year, averaging around 75.3% annually, while average wind speeds reach 22.0 km/h. The overall annual mean temperature is 12.4°C (54.3°F), reflecting the oceanic conditions shaped by Christchurch's latitude (-43.53°) and surrounding geography. For travelers, the best time to visit is January, February, December, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is lower.
Christchurch's oceanic climate is one of the most consistently pleasant in New Zealand. I've studied the data and found that the city experiences warm summers and cool winters, with moderate rainfall year-round. The best time for visiting is December to March, when the temperatures are warmest and the city's garden attractions are in full bloom.
Seasonal Climate Overview
Spring (Mar-May)
Average temperature 12.9°C (55.2°F), rainfall 44.6mm, sunshine 8.2 hrs/day, humidity 75.8%. Mild transitional weather characterizes this period. Expect around 12.3 rainy days per month.
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Average temperature 8.2°C (46.8°F), rainfall 64.1mm, sunshine 6.3 hrs/day, humidity 81.9%. Mild transitional weather characterizes this period. Expect around 14.8 rainy days per month.
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
Average temperature 11.9°C (53.4°F), rainfall 54.5mm, sunshine 10.0 hrs/day, humidity 72.5%. Mild transitional weather characterizes this period. Expect around 15.7 rainy days per month.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Average temperature 16.8°C (62.2°F), rainfall 61.2mm, sunshine 10.8 hrs/day, humidity 71.1%. Mild transitional weather characterizes this period. Expect around 14.3 rainy days per month.
Monthly Temperature Averages (°C / °F)
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean Temp |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.3°C (70.3°F) | 13.4°C (56.1°F) | 17.2°C (63.0°F) |
| February | 21.2°C (70.2°F) | 13.2°C (55.8°F) | 17.1°C (62.8°F) |
| March | 18.9°C (66.0°F) | 11.3°C (52.3°F) | 15.0°C (59.0°F) |
| April | 17.3°C (63.1°F) | 9.3°C (48.7°F) | 13.1°C (55.6°F) |
| May | 14.5°C (58.1°F) | 7.0°C (44.6°F) | 10.6°C (51.1°F) |
| June | 12.0°C (53.6°F) | 5.8°C (42.4°F) | 8.9°C (48.0°F) |
| July | 10.8°C (51.4°F) | 4.0°C (39.2°F) | 7.4°C (45.3°F) |
| August | 12.2°C (54.0°F) | 4.7°C (40.5°F) | 8.2°C (46.8°F) |
| September | 14.5°C (58.1°F) | 5.6°C (42.1°F) | 10.0°C (50.0°F) |
| October | 16.3°C (61.3°F) | 7.8°C (46.0°F) | 11.9°C (53.4°F) |
| November | 17.8°C (64.0°F) | 10.2°C (50.4°F) | 13.9°C (57.0°F) |
| December | 20.0°C (68.0°F) | 12.3°C (54.1°F) | 16.0°C (60.8°F) |
Monthly Precipitation (mm)
| Month | Avg Rainfall | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 32.3 mm | |
| February | 68.5 mm | |
| March | 47.7 mm | |
| April | 33.9 mm | |
| May | 52.1 mm | |
| June | 58.9 mm | |
| July | 87.4 mm | |
| August | 46.0 mm | |
| September | 48.0 mm | |
| October | 52.6 mm | |
| November | 63.0 mm | |
| December | 82.8 mm |
Monthly Rainy Days (avg days with rain > 0.1mm)
| Month | Avg Rainy Days | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 13.4 | |
| February | 12.4 | |
| March | 13.8 | |
| April | 11.2 | |
| May | 11.8 | |
| June | 17.6 | |
| July | 13.8 | |
| August | 13.0 | |
| September | 15.2 | |
| October | 15.4 | |
| November | 16.4 | |
| December | 17.0 |
Monthly Humidity (%)
| Month | Avg Humidity | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 70.6% | |
| February | 71.4% | |
| March | 71.8% | |
| April | 75.6% | |
| May | 80.1% | |
| June | 84.1% | |
| July | 82.8% | |
| August | 78.8% | |
| September | 72.9% | |
| October | 72.5% | |
| November | 72.2% | |
| December | 71.2% |
Monthly Wind Speed (avg max km/h)
| Month | Avg Max Wind | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 24.1 km/h | |
| February | 23.2 km/h | |
| March | 23.4 km/h | |
| April | 20.3 km/h | |
| May | 18.7 km/h | |
| June | 19.5 km/h | |
| July | 20.9 km/h | |
| August | 20.4 km/h | |
| September | 23.2 km/h | |
| October | 23.9 km/h | |
| November | 23.2 km/h | |
| December | 23.1 km/h |
Monthly UV Index (avg max)
| Month | UV Index | Risk Level | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | — | |
| February | — | — | |
| March | — | — | |
| April | — | — | |
| May | — | — | |
| June | — | — | |
| July | — | — | |
| August | — | — | |
| September | — | — | |
| October | — | — | |
| November | — | — | |
| December | — | — |
Monthly Snowfall (cm)
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0.0 cm | |
| February | 0.0 cm | |
| March | 0.0 cm | |
| April | 0.0 cm | |
| May | 0.0 cm | |
| June | 0.2 cm | |
| July | 0.1 cm | |
| August | 0.2 cm | |
| September | 0.7 cm | |
| October | 0.3 cm | |
| November | 0.0 cm | |
| December | 0.0 cm |
Monthly Sunshine Hours (daily average)
| Month | Avg Daily Sunshine | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 12.0 hrs | |
| February | 10.0 hrs | |
| March | 9.1 hrs | |
| April | 8.8 hrs | |
| May | 6.7 hrs | |
| June | 5.4 hrs | |
| July | 6.1 hrs | |
| August | 7.4 hrs | |
| September | 9.2 hrs | |
| October | 10.1 hrs | |
| November | 10.8 hrs | |
| December | 10.5 hrs |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hottest month in Christchurch?
January is the hottest month with an average temperature of 17.2°C (63.0°F).
What is the coldest month in Christchurch?
July is the coldest month with an average temperature of 7.4°C (45.3°F).
What is the rainiest month in Christchurch?
July is the wettest month with an average of 87.4mm of precipitation. The city experiences about 171.0 rainy days per year.
When is the best time to visit Christchurch?
The best time to visit Christchurch is during January, February, December, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is lower.
Cities with Similar Climate (Oceanic)
Other Cities in New Zealand
Data Source: Open-Meteo historical archive (2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31). Daily measurements aggregated into monthly climate normals. Coordinates: -43.53°, 172.63°. Timezone: Pacific/Auckland. Last updated: 2026-07-30.