climate, with quite mild, relatively rainy winters (June to August) and very mild summers (December to February). Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed compared to the northern hemisphere.
Christchurch is the largest city of the South Island of New Zealand and is located on the east coast, in the Canterbury region, at 43 degrees south latitude.
, typical of these latitudes, bring heavy rains to the western side, but before reaching this area, they are blocked by the
, which is why the rains in Christchurch do not reach 600 mm (23.5 in) per year. Actually, Christchurch is the driest between the major cities of New Zealand, even though the rains are still quite frequent.
Furthermore, in this, as in other cities of the eastern side, there can sometimes be
due to downslope winds coming from the mountains. From December to March, with this wind the temperature can reach 35/36 °C (95/97 °F). In February 1973, the temperature reached 41.6 °C (106.8 °F), although it was a rare occurrence. If you exclude this event, the highest record is 37.1 °C (98.8 °F), set in January 2021.
of Antarctic origin. From May to October, the temperature can drop to around -4/-5 °C (23/25 °F). In July 1945 and July 1980, it dropped to -7 °C (19.5 °F). Sometimes it can even
A bit of cold air can arrive all year round, and in summer, the night temperature can drop below 5 °C (41 °F).
The best time to visit Christchurch 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 windy days, and it can get cold at night.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.2 °C, with a minimum of
11.9 °C and a maximum of
22.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.8 °C in January 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
35.7 °C in January 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
17.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
February is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.9 °C, with a minimum of
11.6 °C and a maximum of
22.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
1.5 °C in February 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
35.9 °C in February 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
March is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.1 °C, with a minimum of
9.8 °C and a maximum of
20.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.3 °C in March 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
31.1 °C in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12 °C, with a minimum of
6.8 °C and a maximum of
17.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.8 °C in April 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
27.8 °C in April 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.6 °C, with a minimum of
4.5 °C and a maximum of
14.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.4 °C in May 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
26.6 °C in May 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.8 °C, with a minimum of
1.9 °C and a maximum of
11.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.1 °C in June 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
22 °C in June 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.3 °C, with a minimum of
1.4 °C and a maximum of
11.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.4 °C in July 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
22.4 °C in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.6 °C, with a minimum of
2.6 °C and a maximum of
12.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.3 °C in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
22.2 °C in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.7 °C, with a minimum of
4.3 °C and a maximum of
15 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.8 °C in September 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
24.8 °C in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 6 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 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.7 °C, with a minimum of
6.2 °C and a maximum of
17.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4 °C in October 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
29.1 °C in October 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.6 °C, with a minimum of
7.9 °C and a maximum of
19.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.7 °C in November 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
31.4 °C in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
16.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.9 °C, with a minimum of
10.5 °C and a maximum of
21.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
0.1 °C in December 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 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 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
17.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.