August could be a good time to visit Christchurch, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +54°F, and there are typically 5 sunny days in August. However, expect about 15 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 56 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+54°F
Avg. max. temperature
+23°F
Min.
+72°F
Max.
56 mm
Total precipitation
79%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
5 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
15 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Christchurch has OK weather in August.
Average temperature in Christchurch in August
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Christchurch for August based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in August is +55°F with a maximum of +64°F and a minimum of +32°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 6% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +63°F to +61°F.
Is Christchurch warm or cold in August?
Christchurch is typically mild in August.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +52°F to +54°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +39°F to +41°F.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
August is one of the coolest months in Christchurch, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Christchurch in August
Water in Christchurch in August is Cold. It varies from +47°F to +51°F, with an average of +49°F.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +54°F.
The water temperature in August is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in Christchurch are reached in February, when the average sea temperature rises to +61°F. The coldest water temperatures are in August, with an average of +49°F.
Can you swim in Christchurch in August?
We would not recommend swimming in Christchurch in August, the water is very cold (+49°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Christchurch in August
Christchurch weather looks like this, on average, in August and the surrounding months.
July
August
September
Avg. temperature
+52°F
+54°F
+59°F
Min. temperature
+23°F
+23°F
+25°F
Max. temperature
+72°F
+72°F
+77°F
Rainfall
61 mm
56 mm
47 mm
Wind
2 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+50°F
+49°F
+51°F
Humidity
81%
79%
75%
Air pressure
1011 HPa
1011 HPa
1010 HPa
Sunny days
6
5
5
Cloudy days
10
10
10
Rainy days
15
15
14
Snowy days
0
0
0
August weather is still as ok as in July.It’s getting warmer as August arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +52°F to +54°F during the day.As August arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 61 mm to 56 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 81% to 79%.Winds are stronger in comparison to July, going up from 2 m/s to 3 m/s on average.The days becoming less sunny, going from 6 sunny days in July to 5 in August.
September brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in Christchurch in August based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 3 m/s getting up to 7 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Christchurch is gradually decreasing during August, going from 7 m/s to 2 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during August in Christchurch based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in August is about 49 mm, with a 29% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 16 mm, which is considered light rain.On average, there are about 9 rainy days during August, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how August is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Christchurch wettest month is July, where a typical day has a 48% chance of precipitation and 61 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 38% chance of precipitation and 42 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last August in Christchurch?
This is the weather in Christchurch in August 2023:
1 August
☁️
+63°F
2 August
🌧️
+50°F
3 August
☁️
+50°F
4 August
☁️
+55°F
5 August
☁️
+52°F
6 August
☀️
+54°F
7 August
☁️
+58°F
8 August
☀️
+52°F
9 August
🌧️
+54°F
10 August
☁️
+46°F
11 August
☁️
+51°F
12 August
☁️
+53°F
13 August
☀️
+60°F
14 August
☀️
+58°F
15 August
☁️
+58°F
16 August
🌧️
+51°F
17 August
☀️
+55°F
18 August
☀️
+55°F
19 August
☁️
+60°F
20 August
🌧️
+64°F
21 August
☁️
+55°F
22 August
☀️
+54°F
23 August
☁️
+54°F
24 August
☁️
+56°F
25 August
☀️
+55°F
26 August
☀️
+55°F
27 August
🌧️
+52°F
28 August
☀️
+56°F
29 August
☀️
+60°F
30 August
☀️
+59°F
31 August
☀️
+60°F
In August 2023 Christchurch had 13 sunny days, 13 cloudy days, and 5 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +55°F, with an absolute maximum of +64°F and a minimum of +46°F. The average humidity was 81%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 51%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 11 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in August?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Christchurch climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Christchurch in August has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1992 (+59°F) and the highest in 2019 (+65°F). The driest year was 1988 with only 348 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2021 with 963 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Christchurch in August:
Is August a good time to visit Christchurch?
It’s always a good time to visit Christchurch, but the weather is changeable in August, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Christchurch in August?
August has mild temperatures in Christchurch. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!
Can you swim in Christchurch in August?
Swimming in Christchurch in August is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Christchurch rainy in August?
Christchurch is often rainy in August. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Christchurch in August?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Christchurch in August, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
Other cities in New Zealand
Check out the weather for other cities in New Zealand.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Christchurch, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.