Weather for Christchurch in January is typically good with an average maximum temperature of +72°F during the day, and approximately 5 sunny days monthly. Typically, there are about 13 rainy days with the total average precipitation that falls in January around 47 mm. Expect good weather and pack accordingly to enjoy the outdoors. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
January is usually the driest month of the year in Christchurch
Average weather
☀️
+72°F
Avg. max. temperature
+39°F
Min.
+95°F
Max.
47 mm
Total precipitation
69%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
5 ☀️
Sunny Days
14 ⛅️
Cloudy
13 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Christchurch has good weather in January.
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Average temperature in Christchurch in January
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Christchurch for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in January is +73°F with a maximum of +86°F and a minimum of +48°F.
The average maximum temperature goes up 29% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +66°F to +77°F.
Is Christchurch warm or cold in January?
Christchurch is typically mild in January.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +70°F to +72°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +54°F to +57°F.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
January is one of the warmest months in Christchurch, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Christchurch in January
Water in Christchurch in January is Cold. It varies from +56°F to +65°F, with an average of +60°F.The air temperature averaging +72°F is higher than the water temperature.
The water temperature in January is one of the warmest 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 January?
We would not recommend swimming in Christchurch in January, the water is very cold (+60°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 January
Christchurch weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
December
January
February
Avg. temperature
+70°F
+72°F
+72°F
Min. temperature
+39°F
+39°F
+39°F
Max. temperature
+90°F
+95°F
+97°F
Rainfall
60 mm
47 mm
42 mm
Wind
4 m/s
4 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+58°F
+60°F
+61°F
Humidity
69%
69%
72%
Air pressure
1009 HPa
1010 HPa
1012 HPa
Sunny days
3
5
4
Cloudy days
12
14
13
Rainy days
15
13
11
Snowy days
0
0
0
January weather is still as good as in December.It’s getting warmer as January arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +70°F to +72°F during the day.As January arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 60 mm to 47 mm.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 69%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 4 m/s.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in January, from 3 to 5.
February brings much the same weather, it remains good.
Wind speed in Christchurch in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 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 increasing during January, going from 4 m/s to 5 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Christchurch based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in January is about 33 mm, with a 16% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 18 mm, which is considered light rain.On average, there are about 5 rainy days during January, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how January 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 January in Christchurch?
This is the weather in Christchurch in January 2023:
1 January
☀️
+67°F
2 January
☁️
+70°F
3 January
☀️
+72°F
4 January
☀️
+73°F
5 January
☀️
+79°F
6 January
🌧️
+84°F
7 January
☁️
+65°F
8 January
☀️
+67°F
9 January
☁️
+69°F
10 January
☁️
+70°F
11 January
🌧️
+70°F
12 January
☁️
+65°F
13 January
☀️
+69°F
14 January
☁️
+71°F
15 January
☀️
+72°F
16 January
☀️
+73°F
17 January
☁️
+69°F
18 January
☀️
+72°F
19 January
☁️
+77°F
20 January
☀️
+82°F
21 January
☀️
+72°F
22 January
☁️
+73°F
23 January
☁️
+65°F
24 January
☁️
+70°F
25 January
☁️
+79°F
26 January
☀️
+83°F
27 January
☁️
+85°F
28 January
☁️
+71°F
29 January
☁️
+75°F
30 January
☀️
+79°F
31 January
☁️
+78°F
In January 2023 Christchurch had 13 sunny days, 16 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +73°F, with an absolute maximum of +86°F and a minimum of +64°F. The average humidity was 72%, with a maximum of 96% and a minimum of 28%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Christchurch climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Christchurch in January 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 January:
Is January a good time to visit Christchurch?
January is a really good time to go to Christchurch. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check out other good time to visit Christchurch.
Can you sunbathe in Christchurch in January?
January 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 January?
Swimming in Christchurch in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Christchurch rainy in January?
Christchurch is usually dry in January. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.
Is it sunny in Christchurch in January?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Christchurch in January, 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.
