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Weather & Climate in Queenstown, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Queenstown experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 56°F in January while summers reach 36°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 210 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 69.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 4.9 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 1,076 feet.
Temperature
56°F Jan (13°C)
36°F Jul (2°C)
| Annual Average | 46.1°F |
| 15% below US avg | |
| January Average | 56°F (13°C) |
| July Average | 36°F (2°C) |
| Sunny Days | 210 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,076 ft (328 m) |
| Area | 5,008.8 sq mi (12,972.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 2/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -45.0302°N, 168.6627°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
510 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.2.
| Aug 21, 2003 | 56 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M7.2 | 120 km | 28 km |
| Aug 10, 1993 | 63 km WNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M7.0 | 139 km | 28 km |
| Nov 1, 2000 | 67 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M6.1 | 130 km | 25 km |
| Aug 21, 2003 | 53 km W of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.9 | 131 km | 33 km |
| Dec 7, 2001 | 59 km NNW of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.8 | 91 km | 10 km |
| Aug 21, 2003 | 56 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.7 | 120 km | 33 km |
| Jun 24, 2020 | 87 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.6 | 103 km | 11 km |
| Aug 11, 1993 | 71 km WNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.6 | 143 km | 28 km |
| May 4, 2015 | 28 km NW of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.6 | 59 km | 10 km |
| Sep 30, 2003 | 53 km W of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.6 | 136 km | 10 km |
| Sep 4, 2003 | 53 km WNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.5 | 123 km | 33 km |
| Jun 7, 2016 | 75 km WNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.5 | 145 km | 40 km |
| Jan 20, 2008 | 80 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.5 | 133 km | 22 km |
| Aug 12, 2019 | 80 km NW of Queenstown, New Zealand | M5.4 | 80 km | 10 km |
| Nov 12, 2000 | 59 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.4 | 119 km | 33 km |
| Feb 24, 2002 | 79 km NW of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.4 | 103 km | 12 km |
| May 2, 2005 | 83 km N of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.4 | 123 km | 13 km |
| Aug 21, 2003 | 63 km WNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.3 | 138 km | 23 km |
| Nov 29, 1991 | 97 km NW of Queenstown, New Zealand | M5.3 | 97 km | 10 km |
| Jun 12, 2011 | 86 km NW of Arrowtown, New Zealand | M5.2 | 90 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 4.0 m (13 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2003 | SOUTH ISLAND | Eruption + Earthquake | 4.0 m | — | 120 km |
| 2002 | ALBERT TOWN | Meteorological | — | — | 56 km |
| 1987 | DEEP COVE | Meteorological | — | — | 128 km |
| 1886 | JACKSON BAY, SOUTH ISLAND | Meteorological | — | — | 119 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56°F (13°C) | 5.6 in | Warmest |
| February | 56°F (13°C) | 4.1 in | Driest |
| March | 53°F (11°C) | 6.5 in | |
| April | 47°F (9°C) | 5.4 in | |
| May | 42°F (5°C) | 6.4 in | |
| June | 37°F (3°C) | 5.5 in | |
| July | 36°F (2°C) | 4.9 in | Coldest |
| August | 38°F (3°C) | 4.9 in | |
| September | 42°F (5°C) | 6.9 in | |
| October | 46°F (8°C) | 7.9 in | Wettest |
| November | 49°F (10°C) | 5.5 in | |
| December | 53°F (12°C) | 6.0 in |
Queenstown has a seasonal temperature swing of 20°F / from 36°F in July to 56°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 69.6 inches, with October being the wettest month (7.9") and February the driest (4.1").