Christchurch's Climate

Christchurch, New Zealand Christchurch enjoys a temperate, relatively dry climate with rain falling on fewer days than New Zealand's other major cities. The climate is comfortable all year round winter nights can be chilly and frosts are much more common in Christchurch than in Wellington or Auckland.

When it's frosty in Christchurch wind conditions are calm so frosty mornings in Christchurch are often followed by glorious winter days. Norwester winds are possible at any time of year. The norwester is a fohn type wind - hot and dry - from the Southern Alps that can raise the temperature by 10 or 15 degrees centigrade within an hour or so.

Christchurch sits on a latitude of 43.3 degrees South. Cities on similar latitudes in the Northern hemisphere include Monte Carlo and Boston, Massachusetts. Christchurch is cooler in summer than these northern hemisphere cities because of the moderating effects of the surrounding Pacific Ocean.

Climate Data for Christchurch, New Zealand

Month Av. Daily
Maximum Temp.
(OC)
 Av. Daily
Minimum
Temp.
(OC)
 Av. hours Sunshine
(per day)
 Av. No. Days with at least 0.25 mm
Rainfall
Average
Afternoon
Humidity
Jan. 23 12 7.4 10 60
Feb. 22 12 6.9 8 60
Mar. 20 11 5.9 9 70
Apr. 18 8 5.4 10 70
May 14 5 4.6 12 70
Jun. 12 2 4.0 13 72
Jul. 11 2 4.0 13 75
Aug. 13 3 4.8 11 65
Sep. 15 5 5.5 10 70
Oct. 17 7 6.4 10 60
Nov. 19 9 7.2 10 65
Dec. 21 11 7.1 10 60

The main weather hazard faced by Christchurch's residents is the strength of the sun - particularly in summer.

In high summer, the sunshine in New Zealand is really strong. You'll burn more easily in New Zealand than anywhere in the Mediterranean.

There are three reasons why the sun in the Southern Hemisphere is so strong.

      There is less ozone to block the UV rays that cause sunburn.

      Earth's orbit takes it closer to the sun during the southern summer than during the northern summer.

      There is less pollution in the southern hemisphere to block the UV rays.

The sun's burning strength is measured by the UV index. The highest possible UV index at sea-level is about 20. This can occur at midday in equatorial regions. Any reading higher than 10 is extreme in terms of skin-damage.

      The UV Index in the Mediterranean in high-summer reaches 9 or 10.

      The people in Florida are fried on a just a few days each summer when the index reaches 12.

      In New Zealand the summer index often exceeds 12.

Return to the New Zealand Climate Guide.



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