Wellington, New Zealand Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Wellington
Set in New Zealand, Wellington works through an oceanic year: January afternoons near 68°F (20°C), July afternoons near 54°F (12°C), and about 40.5 inches (1029 mm) of precipitation between them.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: January - highs near 68°F (20°C)
- Coldest month: July - highs near 54°F (12°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 79°F (26°C) high · 36°F (2°C) low
- Wettest month: July (13 rainy days) · Sunniest: January (12.2 h sun/day)
- Climate type: oceanic
- Annual swing: 7°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 4°C
- Average humidity: 79%
Temperatures through the year
July is the coolest month, with highs of 54°F (12°C) and lows near 47°F (8°C). Warmth peaks in January: highs of 68°F (20°C), lows of 59°F (15°C). Days and nights are about 4°C apart on average - narrower than almost anywhere else we cover.
Rain, sun and snow
Between the average January and the average July lie 7°C, a narrower spread than about 81% of the cities we track. Relative humidity averages 79% across the year, more humid than roughly 80% of the cities we track. Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is December through March. July is the wettest month at 4.2 inches (107 mm) over 13 days; January is the driest. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 79°F (26°C) and bottoms at 36°F (2°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Wellington compares
- Wellington sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 57°F (14°C) as an annual average, 40.5 inches (1029 mm) of precipitation and 9.2 hours of sun a day.
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 | 68° | 59° | 7 | 1.6 in | 12.2 h/day | 78% |
| February | 67° | 60° | 8 | 3.2 in | 10.9 h/day | 78% |
| March | 65° | 57° | 10 | 2.9 in | 9.6 h/day | 78% |
| April | 62° | 55° | 10 | 3.7 in | 8.5 h/day | 79% |
| May | 59° | 52° | 12 | 3.8 in | 7.3 h/day | 78% |
| June | 55° | 49° | 11 | 4.0 in | 6.3 h/day | 79% |
| July | 54° | 47° | 13 | 4.2 in | 6.7 h/day | 78% |
| August | 54° | 48° | 14 | 4.0 in | 7.7 h/day | 79% |
| September | 55° | 49° | 13 | 3.6 in | 8.8 h/day | 78% |
| October | 58° | 51° | 12 | 2.9 in | 10.1 h/day | 79% |
| November | 61° | 54° | 11 | 3.4 in | 10.9 h/day | 79% |
| December | 64° | 57° | 11 | 3.1 in | 11.5 h/day | 80% |
Wellington month by month
Wellington weather in January
January brings highs around 68°F (20°C), lows near 59°F (15°C), about 7 wet days - typically the hottest month and the driest month and the sunniest month of the year in Wellington.
Wellington weather in February
February brings highs around 67°F (20°C), lows near 60°F (15°C), about 8 wet days.
Wellington weather in March
March brings highs around 65°F (18°C), lows near 57°F (14°C), about 10 wet days.
Wellington weather in April
April brings highs around 62°F (16°C), lows near 55°F (13°C), about 10 wet days.
Wellington weather in May
May brings highs around 59°F (15°C), lows near 52°F (11°C), about 12 wet days.
Wellington weather in June
June brings highs around 55°F (13°C), lows near 49°F (10°C), about 11 wet days.
Wellington weather in July
July brings highs around 54°F (12°C), lows near 47°F (8°C), about 13 wet days - typically the coldest month and the wettest month of the year in Wellington.
Wellington weather in August
August brings highs around 54°F (12°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 14 wet days.
Wellington weather in September
September brings highs around 55°F (13°C), lows near 49°F (9°C), about 13 wet days.
Wellington weather in October
October brings highs around 58°F (14°C), lows near 51°F (10°C), about 12 wet days.
Wellington weather in November
November brings highs around 61°F (16°C), lows near 54°F (12°C), about 11 wet days.
Wellington weather in December
December brings highs around 64°F (18°C), lows near 57°F (14°C), about 11 wet days.
Seasons in Wellington
Spring (September through November)
Through spring, Wellington runs cool rather than cold: 58°F (15°C) by day, 51°F (11°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 36 of the 90 days.
Summer (December through February)
Through summer, Wellington is crisp but comfortable: 66°F (19°C) by day, 59°F (15°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 25 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 11.5 hours of sun a day.
Fall (March through May)
Fall runs cool rather than cold here - highs near 62°F (17°C), nights near 55°F (13°C), and rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days.
Winter (June through August)
Winter in Wellington is mild, with daytime highs averaging 54°F (12°C) and nights around 48°F (9°C); rain falls on around 38 of the 90 days.
Climate questions, answered
How much do temperatures drop at night in Wellington?
What should I wear in Wellington?
How many rainy days does Wellington get in a year?
Is Wellington hot in summer?
Is Wellington humid?
Is Wellington cold in winter?
Best time to visit Wellington
November to April is the sweet spot for Wellington - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 64°F (18°C) in the afternoon and around 9 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in November.
Pack for Wellington with a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Even in January, lows of 59°F (15°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Wellington temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.