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Weather & Climate in Methven, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Methven experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 59°F in January while summers reach 39°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 254 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 45.3 inches. The city sits at an elevation of 1,047 feet.
Temperature
59°F Jan (15°C)
39°F Jul (4°C)
| Annual Average | 49.5°F |
| 8% below US avg | |
| January Average | 59°F (15°C) |
| July Average | 39°F (4°C) |
| Sunny Days | 254 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,047 ft (319 m) |
| Area | 3,935.4 sq mi (10,192.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 1/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -43.6333°N, 171.6500°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
647 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 | 19 km | 12 km |
| Jun 18, 1994 | 56 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand | M6.8 | 75 km | 14 km |
| Nov 24, 1995 | 47 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand | M6.2 | 73 km | 10 km |
| Feb 21, 2011 | 6 km SE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M6.1 | 83 km | 6 km |
| Jun 19, 1994 | 40 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M6.0 | 40 km | 10 km |
| Jun 13, 2011 | 9 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.9 | 88 km | 6 km |
| Feb 14, 2016 | 12 km ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.8 | 92 km | 8 km |
| Jan 5, 2015 | 43 km SSE of Hokitika, New Zealand | M5.6 | 73 km | 8 km |
| Feb 22, 2011 | 7 km S of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.6 | 78 km | 7 km |
| Sep 19, 2023 | Canterbury, New Zealand | M5.5 | 43 km | 12 km |
| Mar 30, 1992 | 57 km NNW of Methven, New Zealand | M5.5 | 58 km | 12 km |
| Feb 22, 2011 | 6 km SSE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.5 | 81 km | 6 km |
| May 29, 1995 | South Island of New Zealand | M5.5 | 66 km | 10 km |
| Jun 21, 1994 | 47 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M5.4 | 48 km | 10 km |
| Jan 1, 2012 | 21 km ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.2 | 101 km | 14 km |
| Jun 21, 2011 | 1 km SSE of Prebbleton, New Zealand | M5.2 | 71 km | 8 km |
| Jun 13, 2011 | 10 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.2 | 89 km | 9 km |
| Jan 14, 2012 | 10 km E of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.1 | 90 km | 6 km |
| Sep 3, 2010 | 16 km NNW of Rakaia, New Zealand | M5.1 | 21 km | 10 km |
| Oct 4, 2010 | 5 km ESE of Prebbleton, New Zealand | M5.1 | 74 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: 5.0 m (16 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1895 | PIEGON BAY | Meteorological | 5.0 m | - | 101 km |
| 1881 | PIGEON BAY (BANKS PENINSULA) | Earthquake | 3.0 m | - | 101 km |
| 1856 | S CANTERBURY PROVINCE, SOUTH ISLAND | Unknown | 1.0 m | - | 50 km |
| 1869 | NEW ZEALAND | Unknown | 0.6 m | - | 116 km |
| 1922 | SE. NEW ZEALAND | Earthquake | 0.4 m | - | 130 km |
| 1978 | OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND | Meteorological | - | - | 123 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59°F (15°C) | 4.2 in | Warmest |
| February | 59°F (15°C) | 3.4 in | |
| March | 56°F (13°C) | 3.8 in | |
| April | 51°F (10°C) | 3.9 in | |
| May | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 in | |
| June | 40°F (4°C) | 2.8 in | Driest |
| July | 39°F (4°C) | 3.7 in | Coldest |
| August | 42°F (5°C) | 3.9 in | |
| September | 46°F (8°C) | 3.6 in | |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 4.3 in | Wettest |
| November | 53°F (12°C) | 3.9 in | |
| December | 57°F (14°C) | 4.2 in |
Methven has a seasonal temperature swing of 20°F / from 39°F in July to 59°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 45.3 inches, with October being the wettest month (4.3") and June the driest (2.8").