Wellington Weather

Climate & Weather in Wellington, NZ

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, is located on the south coast of the North Island, on a latitude of 41.2 degrees South. Cities on similar latitudes in the Northern hemisphere include Rome, Italy and Vancouver, Canada. The weather and climate of New Zealand in general is temperate and Wellington's is largely in keeping with this; mild with plenty of wind.

The Northern Island experiences subtropical conditions during the mild and sunny summer months (December to February), which means the capital’s summer temperatures do not reach the levels of northern hemisphere cities on a similar latitude. This is due primarily to the cooling effects of the surrounding Pacific Ocean.

Winter in Wellington is likewise a mild affair, bringing cool, rainy days with the occasional southerly storm, never reaching the cold extremes of some Northern American or European countries. Wellington’s average daily maximum temperatures are in the high teens to low 20s in summer and in the low teens in winter, with minimums of around 6C.

The city also receives a generous 2,000 hours of sunshine a year * one reason why Wellington and New Zealand in general is such a popular tourist drawcard (by comparison London averages 1,500 hours annually, and Edinburgh 1,350). The average annual rainfall, mostly occurring during the winter months, is around 1,250 mm.  

In terms of weather, perhaps the most distinguishing aspect of New Zealand’s capital * or ‘Windy Wellington’ as its affectionately called by locals * is the recurring strong winds. These strong winds originate from nearby Cook Strait, the stretch of ocean water that separates the North and South Islands. The waters’ funnelling effect stirs up intense winds along the southern coast of the North Island and can reach winds of up to 200km/hour during extremely adverse weather.

One significant weather-related hazard which can affect residents and visitors to Wellington is the strength of the sun (most apparent in summer months).

There are several factors contributing to this: New Zealand’s geographic location means that the earth’s orbit takes it closer to the sun during the southern hemispheric summer than the northern one; also, there is less ozone to block the harmful UV rays responsible for sunburn. Ironically, the country’s relative lack of air pollution means there is less of a buffer to protect people from these UV rays in the hotter months, where the index can reach and exceed 12.

Overall visitors to Wellington can expect pleasantly mild weather most times of the year, ideal for soaking up the ambient city attractions and the greater green and water-dotted landscapes of surrounding New Zealand.