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Weather & Climate in Sefton, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Sefton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 63°F in January while summers reach 45°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 283 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 34.2 inches. The area receives 1.1 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 43 feet.
Temperature
63°F Jan (17°C)
45°F Jul (7°C)
| Annual Average | 54.3°F |
| 1% above US avg | |
| January Average | 63°F (17°C) |
| July Average | 45°F (7°C) |
| Sunny Days | 283 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Area | 927.4 sq mi (2,402.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 1/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -43.2500°N, 172.6667°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
733 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 | 74 km | 12 km |
| Jun 18, 1994 | 56 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand | M6.8 | 88 km | 14 km |
| Nov 24, 1995 | 47 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand | M6.2 | 77 km | 10 km |
| Feb 21, 2011 | 6 km SE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M6.1 | 37 km | 6 km |
| Apr 24, 2015 | 73 km S of Wakefield, New Zealand | M6.1 | 135 km | 48 km |
| Feb 10, 1990 | 90 km N of Amberley, New Zealand | M6.0 | 101 km | 10 km |
| Jun 19, 1994 | 40 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M6.0 | 86 km | 10 km |
| Jun 13, 2011 | 9 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.9 | 36 km | 6 km |
| Feb 14, 2016 | 12 km ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.8 | 27 km | 8 km |
| Feb 10, 1990 | 90 km N of Amberley, New Zealand | M5.7 | 101 km | 10 km |
| Jan 5, 2015 | 43 km SSE of Hokitika, New Zealand | M5.6 | 118 km | 8 km |
| Feb 22, 2011 | 7 km S of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.6 | 39 km | 7 km |
| Feb 22, 2011 | 6 km SSE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.5 | 38 km | 6 km |
| May 29, 1995 | South Island of New Zealand | M5.5 | 96 km | 10 km |
| Sep 19, 2023 | Canterbury, New Zealand | M5.5 | 135 km | 12 km |
| Mar 30, 1992 | 57 km NNW of Methven, New Zealand | M5.5 | 104 km | 12 km |
| Jun 21, 1994 | 47 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M5.4 | 87 km | 10 km |
| Jun 13, 2011 | 10 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.2 | 37 km | 9 km |
| Jun 21, 2011 | 1 km SSE of Prebbleton, New Zealand | M5.2 | 41 km | 8 km |
| Jan 1, 2012 | 21 km ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.2 | 31 km | 14 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 | 65 km |
| 1895 | PIEGON BAY | Meteorological | 5.0 m | — | 52 km |
| 1881 | PIGEON BAY (BANKS PENINSULA) | Earthquake | 3.0 m | — | 52 km |
| 1856 | S CANTERBURY PROVINCE, SOUTH ISLAND | Unknown | 1.0 m | — | 99 km |
| 1922 | SE. NEW ZEALAND | Earthquake | 0.4 m | — | 39 km |
| 1978 | OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND | Meteorological | — | — | 31 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 63°F (17°C) | 2.2 in | Warmest |
| February | 62°F (17°C) | 1.8 in | Driest |
| March | 60°F (15°C) | 2.5 in | Wettest |
| April | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 in | |
| May | 49°F (9°C) | 2.4 in | |
| June | 45°F (7°C) | 1.9 in | Coldest |
| July | 45°F (7°C) | 2.4 in | |
| August | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 in | |
| September | 50°F (10°C) | 1.8 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 2.5 in | |
| November | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 in | |
| December | 60°F (16°C) | 2.1 in |
Sefton has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 45°F in June to 63°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 26.2 inches, with March being the wettest month (2.5") and February the driest (1.8").