Wellington’s Climate

Wellington Temperatures | Wellington Sunshine Hours | Weather of Wellington

Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington’s location

Wellington is located on the south coast of New Zealand’s North Island and enjoys a temperate climate, with an all-year-round absence of temperature extremes.


Strong winds are a feature of Wellington’s climate.

Similar Latitude Cities

Wellington sits on a latitude of 41.2 degrees South. Cities on similar latitudes in the Northern hemisphere include Rome, Italy and Salt Lake City, Utah. Wellington is cooler in summer than these northern hemisphere cities because of the moderating effects of the surrounding Pacific Ocean.

Climate Data for Wellington

MonthAv. 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.20137.91065
Feb.21147.3970
Mar.19136.21170
Apr.17115.21375
May1494.11678
Jun.1273.31778
Jul.1163.81875
Aug.1274.41775
Sep.1485.21575
Oct.1596.21475
Nov.17107.01370
Dec.19127.31270

NZ in the Northern Hemisphere New Zealand Moves North
Where would New Zealand be located, if it could be moved to the Northern Hemisphere location equal to its current Southern Hemisphere location?

The Sun above Wellington

The main weather hazard faced by Wellington’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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