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Weather & Climate in Leeston, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Leeston experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 62°F in January while summers reach 43°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 289 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 25.7 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 59 feet.
Temperature
62°F Jan (17°C)
43°F Jul (6°C)
| Annual Average | 53.0°F |
| 2% below US avg | |
| January Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| July Average | 43°F (6°C) |
| Sunny Days | 289 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Area | 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 3,411/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -43.7667°N, 172.3000°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
644 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.0.
| Sep 3, 2010 | 19 km NE of Methven, New Zealand | M7.0 | 47 km | 12 km |
| Jun 18, 1994 | 56 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand | M6.8 | 103 km | 14 km |
| Nov 24, 1995 | 47 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand | M6.2 | 96 km | 10 km |
| Feb 21, 2011 | 6 km SE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M6.1 | 37 km | 6 km |
| Jun 19, 1994 | 40 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M6.0 | 78 km | 10 km |
| Jun 13, 2011 | 9 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.9 | 42 km | 6 km |
| Feb 14, 2016 | 12 km ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.8 | 50 km | 8 km |
| Jan 5, 2015 | 43 km SSE of Hokitika, New Zealand | M5.6 | 117 km | 8 km |
| Feb 22, 2011 | 7 km S of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.6 | 32 km | 7 km |
| May 29, 1995 | South Island of New Zealand | M5.5 | 102 km | 10 km |
| Mar 30, 1992 | 57 km NNW of Methven, New Zealand | M5.5 | 101 km | 12 km |
| Sep 19, 2023 | Canterbury, New Zealand | M5.5 | 95 km | 12 km |
| Feb 22, 2011 | 6 km SSE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.5 | 34 km | 6 km |
| Jun 21, 1994 | 47 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M5.4 | 84 km | 10 km |
| Jun 13, 2011 | 10 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.2 | 42 km | 9 km |
| Aug 29, 1996 | 74 km N of Amberley, New Zealand | M5.2 | 147 km | 33 km |
| Jun 21, 2011 | 1 km SSE of Prebbleton, New Zealand | M5.2 | 26 km | 8 km |
| Jan 1, 2012 | 21 km ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.2 | 57 km | 14 km |
| Oct 4, 2010 | 5 km ESE of Prebbleton, New Zealand | M5.1 | 28 km | 10 km |
| Sep 3, 2010 | 16 km NNW of Rakaia, New Zealand | M5.1 | 35 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
6 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 6.5 m (21 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2016 | OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND | Earthquake | 6.5 m | 2 | 130 km |
| 1895 | PIEGON BAY | Meteorological | 5.0 m | - | 49 km |
| 1881 | PIGEON BAY (BANKS PENINSULA) | Earthquake | 3.0 m | - | 49 km |
| 1856 | S CANTERBURY PROVINCE, SOUTH ISLAND | Unknown | 1.0 m | - | 35 km |
| 1922 | SE. NEW ZEALAND | Earthquake | 0.4 m | - | 102 km |
| 1978 | OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND | Meteorological | - | - | 94 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62°F (17°C) | 2.0 in | Warmest |
| February | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 in | |
| March | 59°F (15°C) | 2.2 in | |
| April | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 in | |
| May | 48°F (9°C) | 2.3 in | |
| June | 44°F (7°C) | 2.1 in | |
| July | 43°F (6°C) | 2.3 in | Coldest |
| August | 45°F (7°C) | 2.6 in | Wettest |
| September | 49°F (10°C) | 1.8 in | Driest |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 2.3 in | |
| November | 56°F (14°C) | 2.0 in | |
| December | 60°F (16°C) | 1.9 in |
Leeston has a seasonal temperature swing of 20°F / from 43°F in July to 62°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 25.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (2.6") and September the driest (1.8").