Weather in Christchurch
For those of you wanting to know what kinds of temperatures we’re experiencing or when to plan for your visit, bookmark this link to Christchurch weather. Temperatures are reported in Fahrenheit so as not to confuse those of us not used to the metric system.
The average temperatures for Christchurch range from 52 F to 89 F. Compare this to the average for San Francisco which ranges from 46 F to 72 F. Not bad at all!
For the record:
To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9ths.
To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 and add 32.
Or you can just use the converter.
More on the climate of Christchurch:
Best times to visit will be from October through May.
I’m not quite sure exactly what ‘sunshine hours’ means or how to compare Christchurch’s to San Francisco’s. I found this metric on ‘sunshine days’ for US cities. San Francisco has 160 sunshine days, so if I assume 12 hours of daylight, then I’d get 160 x 12 = 1920 sunshine hours per year. This compares similarly to the 2000 hours that Christchurch enjoys. That’s good news.
And lastly, here’s some general info on climate for the country, lifted from the NZ Tourism website:
Climate – Land of the Long White Cloud. Since the Maori people named New Zealand ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’, climate has been of paramount importance to the people of New Zealand — many of whom make their living from the land. New Zealand has mild temperatures, moderately high rainfall, and many hours of sunshine throughout most of the country. Its climate is dominated by two main geographical features — the mountains and the sea.
Temperature – New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. While the far north has subtropical weather during summer, and inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as —10 C in winter, most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine.
Because New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere, the average temperature decreases as you travel south. The far north of the country has an average temperature of about 15 C, while the deep south has a cooler 9 C average. January and February are the warmest months of the year, and July is the coldest.
Four Seasons in One Day – New Zealand does not have a large temperature range, lacking the extremes one finds in most continental climates. However, the weather can change unexpectedly — as cold fronts or tropical cyclones quickly blow in. Because of this, you should be prepared for sudden changes in weather and temperature if you’re going hiking or doing other outdoor activities.
Hello Sunshine – Most places in New Zealand receive over 2000 hours of sunshine a year, with the sunniest areas — Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Nelson/Marlborough — receiving over 2350 hours. As New Zealand observes daylight saving, during summer months daylight can last up until 9.00pm. New Zealand experiences relatively little air pollution compared to many other countries, which makes the UV rays in our sunlight very strong during the summer months. In order to avoid sunburn, visitors should wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats when they are in direct summer sunlight, especially in the heat of the day (11am — 4pm). While summer is sunnier than the other seasons, most regions in New Zealand have a relatively high proportion of sunlight during the winter months.
Rainfall – New Zealand’s average rainfall is high — between 640mm and 1500mm — and evenly spread throughout the year. As well as producing areas of stunning native forest, this high rainfall makes New Zealand an ideal place for farming and horticulture.
Summer – New Zealand’s summer months are December to February, bringing high temperatures and sunshine. Days are long and sunny, nights are mild. Summer is an excellent time for walking in the bush and a variety of other outdoor activities. New Zealand’s many gorgeous beaches are ideal for swimming, sunbathing, surfing, boating, and water sports during summer.
Autumn – March to May are New Zealand’s autumn months. While temperatures are a little cooler than summer, the weather can be excellent, and it is possible to swim in some places until April. While New Zealand’s native fauna is evergreen, there are many introduced deciduous trees. Colourful changing leaves make autumn a scenic delight, especially in regions such as Central Otago and Hawke’s Bay, which are known for their autumn splendour.
Winter – New Zealand’s winter months of June to August bring colder weather to much of the country, and more rain to most areas in the North Island. Mountain ranges in both islands become snow-covered, providing beautiful vistas and excellent skiing. While the South Island has cooler winter temperatures, some areas of the island experience little rainfall in winter, so this is an excellent time to visit glaciers, mountains, and other areas of scenic beauty.
Spring – Spring lasts from September to November, and New Zealand’s spring weather can range from cold and frosty to warm and hot. During spring buds, blossoms, and other new growth bursts forth throughout the country and new born lambs frolic in the fields just before dusk.. Both Alexandra in Central Otago and Hastings in Hawke’s Bay celebrate spring with a blossom festival. If you’re into white water rafting, this is the time when melting spring snow makes river water levels excitingly high!