Central Otago and inland Canterbury's Mackenzie Basin have the closest New Zealand has to continental climates, being generally drier (due in part to föhn winds) and less directly modified by the ocean. January and February are the warmest months, and July is the coldest month of the year. New Zealand Weather & Climate. As well as producing areas of stunning native forest, the high rainfall makes New Zealand an ideal place for farming and horticulture. Based on weather reports collected during 1985–2015. However, most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures year-round. New Zealand’s climate varies wildly. Most regions of New Zealand belong to the temperate zone with a maritime climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb) characterised by four distinct seasons. Having such a maritime climate means there is an abundance of sunshine and pleasant temperatures for most of the year. Weather Atlas: New Zealand - Climate data and average monthly weather. The greater temperature ranges are found in the interior of the Canterbury and Otago regions, and especially Central Otago. Recent (2010) studies by Victoria University have shown that the regional climates most affected were in coastal Otago and Southland. 2 February 1936: The Cyclone of 1936 was the worst storm of the 20th century in New Zealand. Late on 20 June, the storm pushed northeast to the North Island, bringing very strong winds until early 23 June. 16 April 1897: The storm of 1897 was a severe storm that struck the lower to central North Island of New Zealand on 16 April 1897. Reapply every two hours. In addition to above, we use other cookies and analytics to provide a better site experience. In 2014, New Zealand contributed 0.17% to the world's total greenhouse gas emissions. using Weatherbase's weather averages and normals. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain how we use your data and who our partners are. New Zealand’s government will decide next week if a climate emergency should be declared in the country or not. New Zealand does have a wet season so you’ll want to keep that in mind when traveling. [9], 20 December 1976: Heavy rain caused widespread flooding and landslides in Wellington City and Hutt Valley. Indications are that temperatures were in the range of 1.5-2.0 degree Celsius lower than present during the New Zealand LIA. The sunniest areas, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay and Nelson/Marlborough, receive over 2,350 hours of sunshine. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government is to declare a climate emergency in a symbolic step to increase pressure for action to … New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. New Zealand is a popular holiday destination despite its remote location. WELLINGTON: New Zealand promised its public sector would become carbon neutral by 2025 as it declared a climate emergency on Wednesday … [9], 26 June 1998: A severe thunderstorm affected Karori and Kelburn, with rain breaking all previous records and falling at a rate with a return period of well over 200 years. Due to these winds, the cooler South Island cities such as Dunedin and Christchurch have higher all-time record temperatures than places further north such as Wellington, Auckland and Whangarei. More than 350 mm of rain fell in 24 hours.[9]. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government is to declare a climate emergency in a symbolic step to increase pressure for action to combat global warming. To view cookie details and how to opt-out, please see our Cookie Policy. New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. New Zealand’s climate varies wildly. Weather in New Zealand can be unpredictable. The far north has subtropical weather during summer, while inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10°C (14°F) in winter. Winter temperatures are much milder in New Zealand compared to other areas of similar latitude, with the exception of the Central Otago and Mackenzie Basin regions mentioned above. The warmest months are December, … Even the driest month still has a lot of rainfall. Wellington sits on a latitude of 41.2 degrees South. Check out what other travelers say about New Zealand on TripAdvisor. [2] Rainfall is normally distributed evenly throughout the year in most parts of the country, especially in the South Island. A civil state of emergency was declared in Whanganui, Manawatu and Rangitikei. The average recurrence interval of this rainfall event was estimated at more than 100 years. Most snow in New Zealand falls in the mountainous areas, like the Central Plateau in the north, and the Southern Alps in the south. 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