All Countries
Weather & Climate in Oamaru, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Oamaru experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 60°F in January while summers reach 42°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 297 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 21.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 39 feet.
Temperature
60°F Jan (16°C)
42°F Jul (6°C)
| Annual Average | 51.4°F |
| 5% below US avg | |
| January Average | 60°F (16°C) |
| July Average | 42°F (6°C) |
| Sunny Days | 297 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Area | 20.5 sq mi (53.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 635/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -45.0976°N, 170.9709°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
41 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.1.
| Jul 6, 2015 | 56 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.1 | 127 km | 10 km |
| Apr 2, 2005 | 67 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.9 | 119 km | 12 km |
| Feb 8, 1998 | 42 km WNW of Oamaru, New Zealand | M4.8 | 42 km | 10 km |
| Aug 19, 2004 | 43 km NW of Geraldine, New Zealand | M4.7 | 144 km | 5 km |
| Apr 16, 2005 | 47 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.6 | 140 km | 8 km |
| Feb 11, 2004 | 68 km WSW of Oamaru, New Zealand | M4.5 | 69 km | 12 km |
| Apr 5, 2012 | 74 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.5 | 145 km | 5 km |
| Mar 20, 2011 | 79 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.4 | 120 km | 5 km |
| May 21, 1999 | 62 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.3 | 101 km | 12 km |
| Mar 20, 2011 | 73 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.3 | 118 km | 5 km |
| Mar 27, 2009 | 83 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.3 | 121 km | 14 km |
| May 27, 2011 | 43 km WSW of Pleasant Point, New Zealand | M4.3 | 75 km | 5 km |
| Sep 5, 2013 | 36 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.3 | 136 km | 9 km |
| May 26, 2009 | 60 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.3 | 110 km | 5 km |
| Jun 1, 2015 | 33 km WNW of Dunedin, New Zealand | M4.3 | 97 km | 9 km |
| Feb 9, 1993 | 58 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.2 | 110 km | 10 km |
| Mar 20, 2011 | 75 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.2 | 118 km | 5 km |
| Aug 3, 2014 | 52 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.2 | 133 km | 40 km |
| Oct 7, 2013 | 88 km W of Pleasant Point, New Zealand | M4.2 | 127 km | 10 km |
| Aug 10, 2021 | 24 km SW of Pleasant Point, New Zealand | M4.2 | 76 km | 12 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.0 m (3 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1856 | S CANTERBURY PROVINCE, SOUTH ISLAND | Unknown | 1.0 m | - | 147 km |
| 2002 | ALBERT TOWN | Meteorological | - | - | 146 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 60°F (16°C) | 2.1 in | Warmest |
| February | 60°F (15°C) | 1.8 in | |
| March | 57°F (14°C) | 2.1 in | |
| April | 53°F (11°C) | 1.4 in | |
| May | 47°F (8°C) | 1.8 in | |
| June | 43°F (6°C) | 1.5 in | |
| July | 42°F (6°C) | 2.0 in | Coldest |
| August | 44°F (7°C) | 1.7 in | |
| September | 48°F (9°C) | 1.3 in | Driest |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 2.0 in | |
| November | 54°F (12°C) | 1.8 in | |
| December | 58°F (14°C) | 2.4 in | Wettest |
Oamaru has a seasonal temperature swing of 18°F / from 42°F in July to 60°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 21.6 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.4") and September the driest (1.3").