Climate in Christchurch — Annual Weather Overview
Christchurch has a oceanic climate — mild temperatures year-round with regular rainfall. The hottest month is January (average high 21.1°C) and the coolest is July (10.9°C). There is a noticeable seasonal temperature shift of 10.2°C between January and July. Annual rainfall totals around 702mm. July is the wettest month at 99.5mm, while January averages just 28.8mm. Average daily sunshine is 8.8 hours.
**Spring (September, October, November):** average highs 16.1°C, 164mm rain. **Summer (December, January, February):** average highs 20.6°C, 192mm rain. **Autumn (March, April, May):** average highs 17.1°C, 147mm rain. **Winter (June, July, August):** average highs 11.7°C, 200mm rain.
Christchurch — Monthly Temperatures
Christchurch — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Christchurch stays reasonable all year.
Christchurch weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.1°C | 13.3°C | 28.8mm | 11.9h | 7 | 10/10 |
| February | 21.1°C | 13.4°C | 78.0mm | 9.9h | 9 | 10/10 |
| March | 19.0°C | 11.6°C | 51.6mm | 9.0h | 8 | 10/10 |
| April | 17.4°C | 9.4°C | 38.0mm | 8.9h | 7 | 10/10 |
| May | 15.0°C | 7.7°C | 57.4mm | 6.6h | 8 | 10/10 |
| June | 12.1°C | 5.8°C | 59.4mm | 5.4h | 11 | 10/10 |
| July | 10.9°C | 3.9°C | 99.5mm | 6.2h | 10 | 10/10 |
| August | 12.2°C | 4.7°C | 41.0mm | 7.4h | 10 | 10/10 |
| September | 14.4°C | 5.7°C | 46.6mm | 9.1h | 9 | 10/10 |
| October | 16.3°C | 7.8°C | 45.8mm | 10.1h | 9 | 10/10 |
| November | 17.7°C | 10.1°C | 71.3mm | 10.6h | 10 | 10/10 |
| December | 19.7°C | 12.1°C | 84.7mm | 10.4h | 11 | 10/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Christchurch. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Christchurch have?
Christchurch has a oceanic climate — mild temperatures year-round with regular rainfall. Average highs range from 10.9°C in July to 21.1°C in January.
What is the hottest month in Christchurch?
January is the hottest month in Christchurch, with average highs of 21.1°C and lows of 13.3°C.
What is the coldest month in Christchurch?
July is the coolest month, with average highs of 10.9°C and lows of 3.9°C.
What is the wettest month in Christchurch?
July is the wettest month, averaging 99.5mm of rainfall over around 10 rainy days.
How much rain does Christchurch get per year?
Christchurch receives around 702mm of rain per year. The driest month is January (28.8mm).
When is the best time to visit Christchurch?
The best time to visit Christchurch is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Christchurch
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.