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Weather Overview for Christchurch

Compared with many other locations throughout New Zealand, Christchurch has a dry temperate climate. Given its location to the south of the eastern coast of the south island, the Garden city could at times be considered relatively warm.

With warm summers and cold winters, the weather in Christchurch is fairly arid, experiencing strong breezes from time to time which can in fact ruin the pleasantness of the region.

On a typical icy winter night Christchurch is known for its surrounding of smog, the city’s neighbouring hills, apparent skies and glacial calm conditions commonly connect to create dusty smog. Although this has been proven to be a smaller amount than the smog nearby Los Angeles or Mexico City,, Christchurch smog has frequently exceeded “World Health Organisation” recommendations for air pollution.

The extravagant Southern Alps, with their many ski-fields, are little more than half an hour from western Christchurch and many travellers and locals from the city spend their winter and spring weekends on the slopes. The Alps can be significantly responsible for the regions chilly winds and gusts of icy air. However, occasionally during the summer very warm, dry air from the Alps can help raise temperatures. New Zealand's highest ever temperature of 42°C was measured just north of Christchurch.

While Christchurch characteristically enjoys a dry, sunny climate; residents of the city have been known to relate the weather similar to that of London. Days can regularly be damp, grey, cold and somewhat depressing.

Christchurch is cooler in summer than most northern hemisphere cities because of the restrained effects of the surrounding Pacific Ocean. The summer climate is often moderated by a sea breeze from the northeast, but temperatures are still commonly known to hit the low thirties. On occasions it’s also likely for the region to experience a very humid heat wave, giving some of the best summers known in any of the regions of New Zealand.

Norwest winds are possible at any time of year. The nor’wester is a “Föhn” type wind; typically hot and dry coming from the direction of the Southern Alps that can help raise the temperature by 10°C or 15°C within an hour or so. A renowned feature of the nor’wester is when the wind can at times reach storm force, resulting in widespread minor damage to property.

Autumn and spring in Christchurch are particularly pleasant with average daytime temperatures ranging between 17°C to 23°C, with night temperatures dropping to around 13°C. These are known to be the busiest seasons, and travellers often head out to the Alps to experience the regions magnificent ski fields.

Winters are often very chilly throughout the city, especially in the months of June and July. In winter it is frequent for the temperature to fall below freezing point during the night. Given that there are on average seventy days of settled ground frost per year, residents will wake up to a vast amount of frost on the ground most winter mornings. However, when frost is present wind conditions are calm so frosty mornings are often followed by glorious winter days. Snow fall will occur on average once or twice a year in the hill suburbs and the surrounding hinterland and about once or twice every two years on the plain. Expected winter daytime temperatures regularly reach highs of 10°C between June to August. 

The average annual daytime temperatures in Christchurch are around 16°C. Whether you’re travelling for the magnificent snow surrounding the Christchurch region or just for the garden scenery itself, this city is beautiful at any time of the year.