Christchurch, New Zealand Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Christchurch
Set in New Zealand, Christchurch works through an oceanic year: January afternoons near 71°F (22°C), July afternoons near 51°F (11°C), and about 25.8 inches (656 mm) of precipitation between them.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: January - highs near 71°F (22°C)
- Coldest month: July - highs near 51°F (11°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 95°F (35°C) high · 25°F (-4°C) low
- Wettest month: July (10 rainy days) · Sunniest: January (11.5 h sun/day)
- Climate type: oceanic
- Annual swing: 10°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Average humidity: 75%
Temperatures through the year
July is the coolest month, with highs of 51°F (11°C) and lows near 38°F (4°C). Warmth peaks in January: highs of 71°F (22°C), lows of 56°F (14°C). Between the average January and the average July lie 10°C, a narrower spread than about 75% of the cities we track.
Rain, sun and snow
January is the brightest month at 11.5 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.0. Five of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is November through March. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 95°F (35°C) and bottoms at 25°F (-4°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Christchurch compares
- 28% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more evenly spread than almost every other city we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 71° | 56° | 8 | 2.0 in | 11.5 h/day | 70% |
| February | 71° | 56° | 7 | 2.0 in | 10.6 h/day | 70% |
| March | 67° | 53° | 7 | 1.9 in | 8.9 h/day | 73% |
| April | 63° | 48° | 8 | 2.1 in | 8.4 h/day | 76% |
| May | 58° | 44° | 8 | 1.9 in | 7.0 h/day | 79% |
| June | 53° | 41° | 10 | 2.3 in | 6.0 h/day | 83% |
| July | 51° | 38° | 10 | 2.9 in | 6.6 h/day | 82% |
| August | 53° | 39° | 9 | 1.7 in | 7.7 h/day | 80% |
| September | 57° | 42° | 9 | 1.9 in | 8.9 h/day | 75% |
| October | 61° | 46° | 10 | 2.1 in | 10.2 h/day | 73% |
| November | 64° | 50° | 10 | 2.4 in | 11.1 h/day | 72% |
| December | 68° | 54° | 11 | 2.7 in | 11.2 h/day | 70% |
Christchurch month by month
Christchurch weather in January
January brings highs around 71°F (22°C), lows near 56°F (14°C), about 8 wet days - typically the hottest month and the sunniest month of the year in Christchurch.
Christchurch weather in February
February brings highs around 71°F (22°C), lows near 56°F (13°C), about 7 wet days.
Christchurch weather in March
March brings highs around 67°F (19°C), lows near 53°F (12°C), about 7 wet days.
Christchurch weather in April
April brings highs around 63°F (17°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 8 wet days.
Christchurch weather in May
May brings highs around 58°F (14°C), lows near 44°F (7°C), about 8 wet days.
Christchurch weather in June
June brings highs around 53°F (12°C), lows near 41°F (5°C), about 10 wet days.
Christchurch weather in July
July brings highs around 51°F (11°C), lows near 38°F (4°C), about 10 wet days - typically the coldest month and the wettest month of the year in Christchurch.
Christchurch weather in August
August brings highs around 53°F (12°C), lows near 39°F (4°C), about 9 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Christchurch.
Christchurch weather in September
September brings highs around 57°F (14°C), lows near 42°F (6°C), about 9 wet days.
Christchurch weather in October
October brings highs around 61°F (16°C), lows near 46°F (8°C), about 10 wet days.
Christchurch weather in November
November brings highs around 64°F (18°C), lows near 50°F (10°C), about 10 wet days.
Christchurch weather in December
December brings highs around 68°F (20°C), lows near 54°F (12°C), about 11 wet days.
Seasons in Christchurch
Spring (September through November)
Spring in Christchurch runs cool rather than cold, with daytime highs averaging 61°F (16°C) and nights around 46°F (8°C); rain falls on around 30 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.1 hours of sun a day.
Summer (December through February)
Summer in Christchurch is pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 70°F (21°C) and nights around 55°F (13°C); expect showers on roughly 26 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 11.1 hours of sun a day.
Fall (March through May)
Through fall, Christchurch is mild: 62°F (17°C) by day, 48°F (9°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 23 days across the season.
Winter (June through August)
Winter is chilly here - highs near 53°F (11°C), nights near 40°F (4°C), and expect showers on roughly 28 days across the season.
Climate questions, answered
How often does it rain in Christchurch?
Is Christchurch cold in winter?
How sunny is Christchurch?
How hot does Christchurch get in summer?
What should I wear in Christchurch?
Best time to visit Christchurch
The best time to visit Christchurch is generally January to April, when warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 68°F (20°C), with rain on about 7 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in January.
Pack for Christchurch with a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Note the gap between afternoon and night: January pairs 71°F (22°C) with 56°F (14°C).
Christchurch temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.