Nelson, New Zealand experiences average highs of 17°C (63°F) and lows of 10°C (50°F) throughout the year. Rainfall is moderate, averaging about 12 rainy days per month. Sunshine is abundant, averaging about 9 hours per day. Average highs have stayed broadly stable across the available records.
Nelson, New Zealand Weather & Climate 2026
Monthly climate averages for Nelson, New Zealand. Based on 10-year ERA5 reanalysis data.
Climate Overview
Drier season: Jan–Jul 
Wetter season: May–Dec At-a-Glance Climate Summary
Live Weather & Air Quality
Key figures
Climate Score
6.7/10
Best: January, February, March, December
UV Index
5
Low
Temperature 17°C / 10°C
Feels Like 17°C / 9°C
Rainy Days 12
Rainfall 122 mm
Sunshine 9 h
Humidity 81%
Wind Speed 17 km/h
Dew Point 11°C
Snow Days 1 days
Hottest Month
23°C
January
Avg Low15°C
Rain11days
Coldest Month
6°C
July
Avg High12°C
Rain11days
Driest Month
8days
February
Avg High22°C
Avg Low15°C
Windiest Month
19 km/h
December (Gusts 37)
Sea Temperature
11°C – 22°C
Warmest water: February (
21.7°C
)
Worst Time to Visit
Consider avoiding June, July, August due to frequent rain.
Sun Position
Sunrise 07:52
Daylight 9.2h
Sunset 17:05
Live conditions—
Nelson on the map · live conditions
Nelson, New Zealand
- Continent
- Oceania
- Country
- New Zealand
- City
- Nelson
- Population
- 54.4K
- Coordinates
- -41.27°, 173.28°
Seasonal Breakdown
Spring
Sep–Nov
Avg High 17°C
Avg Low 10°C
Rain 13 days/mo
Summer
Dec–Feb
Avg High 22°C
Avg Low 14°C
Rain 11 days/mo
3/3 best months
Autumn
Mar–May
Avg High 18°C
Avg Low 11°C
Rain 11 days/mo
1/3 best months
Winter
Jun–Aug
Avg High 13°C
Avg Low 6°C
Rain 11 days/mo
Climate Charts
Based on historical averages (2016–2025)
Monthly Temperatures
HighLowShaded bands show the typical range across the available yearly records.
Line chart showing monthly temperatures. Jan: 23°C / 15°C . Feb: 22°C / 15°C . Mar: 21°C / 13°C . Apr: 18°C / 11°C . May: 15°C / 9°C . Jun: 13°C / 7°C . Jul: 12°C / 6°C . Aug: 13°C / 6°C . Sep: 15°C / 8°C . Oct: 17°C / 9°C . Nov: 19°C / 12°C . Dec: 21°C / 14°C .
Monthly Rainfall
Rainfall
Bar chart showing monthly rainfall. Jan: 99 mm. Feb: 102 mm. Mar: 112 mm. Apr: 131 mm. May: 150 mm. Jun: 121 mm. Jul: 156 mm. Aug: 126 mm. Sep: 105 mm. Oct: 124 mm. Nov: 122 mm. Dec: 118 mm.
Monthly Humidity
Humidity
Line chart showing monthly humidity. Jan: 76%. Feb: 78%. Mar: 80%. Apr: 83%. May: 86%. Jun: 87%. Jul: 86%. Aug: 84%. Sep: 80%. Oct: 79%. Nov: 79%. Dec: 77%.
Monthly Wind Speed
Wind SpeedGusts
Bar chart showing monthly wind speed. Jan: 19 km/h . Feb: 18 km/h . Mar: 16 km/h . Apr: 16 km/h . May: 15 km/h . Jun: 14 km/h . Jul: 16 km/h . Aug: 15 km/h . Sep: 18 km/h . Oct: 19 km/h . Nov: 19 km/h . Dec: 19 km/h .
Sunshine
Sunshine
Sunshine: Jan: 12h. Feb: 11h. Mar: 10h. Apr: 8h. May: 7h. Jun: 6h. Jul: 7h. Aug: 8h. Sep: 9h. Oct: 10h. Nov: 11h. Dec: 12h.
Sea Temperature
Sea Temperatureswim
Line chart showing monthly sea temperature. Jan: 22°C . Feb: 22°C . Mar: 20°C . Apr: 18°C . May: 15°C . Jun: 14°C . Jul: 12°C . Aug: 11°C . Sep: 13°C . Oct: 15°C . Nov: 18°C . Dec: 20°C .
UV Index
UV Index
Bar chart showing monthly UV index. Jan: UV 8. Feb: UV 8. Mar: UV 6. Apr: UV 4. May: UV 3. Jun: UV 2. Jul: UV 2. Aug: UV 3. Sep: UV 5. Oct: UV 6. Nov: UV 7. Dec: UV 8.
Monthly Daylight Hours
Daylight12h reference
Monthly Dew Point & Comfort
Dew Point Dry Comfortable Humid Muggy Oppressive
Snow Days
Snow DaysSnowfall
Snow Days: Jan: 0 days. Feb: 0 days. Mar: 0 days. Apr: 0 days. May: 0 days. Jun: 0 days. Jul: 0 days. Aug: 1 days. Sep: 0 days. Oct: 0 days. Nov: 0 days. Dec: 0 days.
Climate Trends
Average highs have stayed broadly stable across the available records. Average rainfall is trending wetter by about 17 mm.
2016 to 2025
Avg high Avg rainfall
Climate summary
| Last 12 months | All years | |
|---|---|---|
| Hottest month | Feb 2025 · 22°C | Jan · 23°C |
| Coldest month | Aug 2025 · 4°C | Jul · 6°C |
| Wettest month | Apr 2025 · 309 mm | Jul · 156 mm |
| Windiest month | Sep 2025 · 21 km/h | Dec · 19 km/h |
Month-by-Month Weather Table
January best
Excellent 
February best
Excellent March best
Excellent April
Good May
Good June
Fair July
Fair August
Fair 
September
Fair October
Good November
Good December best
Excellent | Month | Temp | Feels Like | Rain | Sun | Humidity | UV | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January best | 23°C / 15°C | 24°C / 15°C | 11days (99 mm) Wet | 11.9h Excellent | 76% Humid | 7.8 Very High | Excellent | View Details |
| February best | 22°C / 15°C | 23°C / 15°C | 8days (102 mm) Wet | 10.9h Excellent | 78% Humid | 7.5 Very High | Excellent | View Details |
| March best | 21°C / 13°C | 21°C / 13°C | 10days (112 mm) Wet | 9.8h Good | 80% Humid | 6 High | Excellent | View Details |
| April | 18°C / 11°C | 17°C / 10°C | 11days (131 mm) Wet | 8.4h Good | 83% Humid | 3.5 Moderate | Good | View Details |
| May | 15°C / 9°C | 14°C / 7°C | 12days (150 mm) Wet | 7.2h Good | 86% Very Muggy | 2.6 Moderate | Good | View Details |
| June | 13°C / 7°C | 11°C / 4°C | 11days (121 mm) Wet | 6.3h Fair | 87% Very Muggy | 2 Low | Fair | View Details |
| July | 12°C / 6°C | 10°C / 3°C | 11days (156 mm) Wet | 6.7h Fair | 86% Very Muggy | 2.2 Moderate | Fair | View Details |
| August | 13°C / 6°C | 11°C / 3°C | 12days (126 mm) Wet | 8h Good | 84% Humid | 3.4 Moderate | Fair | View Details |
| September | 15°C / 8°C | 13°C / 5°C | 13days (105 mm) Wet | 9.3h Good | 80% Humid | 4.8 Moderate | Fair | View Details |
| October | 17°C / 9°C | 16°C / 8°C | 13days (124 mm) Wet | 10.3h Excellent | 79% Humid | 6 High | Good | View Details |
| November | 19°C / 12°C | 19°C / 10°C | 14days (122 mm) Wet | 11.2h Excellent | 79% Humid | 7 High | Good | View Details |
| December best | 21°C / 14°C | 22°C / 13°C | 13days (118 mm) Wet | 11.7h Excellent | 77% Humid | 7.6 Very High | Excellent | View Details |
Compare Nearby City Climates
Frequently Asked Questions
The best months to visit Nelson are January, February, March, December, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is at its lowest. This is based on 10-year climate averages for Nelson, scoring temperature, rainfall, humidity, and sunshine hours.
The hottest month in Nelson is January, with average daytime highs of 23°C (73°F). Plan outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon if visiting during this period.
The coldest month in Nelson is July, with average overnight lows of 6°C (42°F). Pack warm layers and expect shorter daylight hours during this period.
The wettest month in Nelson is July, averaging 156mm of precipitation across 11 rainy days. An umbrella or waterproof jacket is essential.
The rainy season in Nelson runs through November, September, October, December, with the heaviest rainfall in November. Based on 10-year averages for Nelson.
Nelson receives approximately 112 sunshine hours per year. The sunniest month is January with around 12 hours. Based on climate data for Nelson.
The least favorable months to visit Nelson are June, July, August, primarily due to frequent rain. For the best conditions, consider January, February, March, December instead.
The annual average UV index in Nelson is 5, classified as moderate. Standard sun protection (sunscreen, hat) is recommended during prolonged outdoor exposure.
Average humidity in Nelson is 81%, classified as humid. High humidity makes warm temperatures feel significantly hotter — lightweight, breathable clothing is recommended.
Sea temperatures in Summer average 17°C (63°F), which most swimmers will find too cold without a wetsuit.
Yes, Nelson receives snow. Months with snowfall average 1 snow days and 0 cm (0 in) of accumulation, with about 0 frost days during winter.
Average wind speeds in Nelson are 17 km/h (11 mph). The windiest month is December with peak winds reaching 19 km/h (12 mph) (gusts up to 37 km/h / 23 mph).
Nelson averages 3 clear-sky days per month with overall cloud cover around 57%. The clearest skies occur in July.
The annual average dew point in Nelson is 11°C (52°F), which feels pleasant with low humidity. Outdoor activities are comfortable year-round from a humidity standpoint.
Nelson has a Oceanic climate, classified as Cfb under the Köppen system. Temperate climates have mild winters and warm summers, with rainfall spread across the year and four distinct seasons.
The 'feels like' temperature in Nelson ranges from 9°C (48°F) to 17°C (63°F) on average. The 'feels like' temperature closely matches the actual temperature throughout most of the year.
June is not the best time to visit Nelson, with a climate score of 4.8/10. Consider visiting during January, February, March, December instead for better conditions.
For June in Nelson, pack Layered clothing, Light jacket, Umbrella, Waterproof jacket, Comfortable walking shoes. With average highs of 13°C (55°F) and 11 rainy days, these essentials will keep you comfortable.
Data Source
Climate data derived from ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF), averaged over 2016–2025. Sea surface temperature from marine reanalysis data. Climate scores and seasonal estimates are computed by WorldStats.
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