All Countries
Weather & Climate in Taupo, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Taupo experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 62°F in January while summers reach 44°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 234 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 56.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 1,329 feet.
Temperature
62°F Jan (17°C)
44°F Jul (6°C)
| Annual Average | 52.8°F |
| 2% below US avg | |
| January Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| July Average | 44°F (6°C) |
| Sunny Days | 234 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,329 ft (405 m) |
| Area | 16.6 sq mi (42.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,604/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -38.6833°N, 176.0833°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,381 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.4.
| Aug 10, 1993 | 42 km WNW of Gisborne, New Zealand | M6.4 | 129 km | 14 km |
| Dec 7, 2012 | 27 km SE of Tokoroa, New Zealand | M6.3 | 28 km | 163 km |
| Jun 21, 1992 | 31 km NNW of Whakatane, New Zealand | M6.2 | 130 km | 10 km |
| Oct 25, 1999 | 24 km W of Taupo, New Zealand | M6.2 | 24 km | 159 km |
| May 18, 1999 | 54 km S of Otorohanga, New Zealand | M5.8 | 72 km | 283 km |
| Apr 11, 1993 | 28 km WSW of Hastings, New Zealand | M5.7 | 124 km | 33 km |
| Mar 25, 1992 | 28 km N of Whakatane, New Zealand | M5.6 | 134 km | 33 km |
| Jan 27, 2011 | 21 km NNW of Taupo, New Zealand | M5.6 | 22 km | 158 km |
| Oct 16, 2012 | 8 km NE of Taupo, New Zealand | M5.6 | 9 km | 111 km |
| Jul 18, 2004 | 20 km WNW of Kawerau, New Zealand | M5.6 | 85 km | 5 km |
| May 24, 2001 | 38 km WNW of Turangi, New Zealand | M5.5 | 63 km | 261 km |
| Oct 15, 2001 | 21 km WSW of Hastings, New Zealand | M5.5 | 122 km | 48 km |
| Jul 5, 2011 | 29 km W of Taupo, New Zealand | M5.5 | 29 km | 152 km |
| Mar 23, 1999 | 12 km NNW of Edgecumbe, New Zealand | M5.4 | 109 km | 148 km |
| Sep 25, 1996 | 57 km ENE of Eltham, New Zealand | M5.4 | 117 km | 226 km |
| Jul 8, 2006 | 34 km N of Napier, New Zealand | M5.3 | 88 km | 30 km |
| Apr 8, 2006 | 20 km SE of Tokoroa, New Zealand | M5.3 | 36 km | 158 km |
| Aug 8, 2000 | 51 km ESE of Turangi, New Zealand | M5.3 | 65 km | 64 km |
| Mar 17, 2023 | 8 km WNW of Kawerau, New Zealand | M5.3 | 84 km | 10 km |
| Jul 12, 1991 | 23 km ENE of Waiouru, New Zealand | M5.3 | 78 km | 67 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
6 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 15.0 m (49 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1931 | N. NEW ZEALAND | Eruption + Earthquake | 15.0 m | 261 | 121 km |
| 1910 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Meteorological | 1.5 m | 1 | 43 km |
| 2022 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 20 km |
| 1956 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.9 m | — | 34 km |
| 1895 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 15 km |
| 1846 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Unknown | — | — | 43 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
9 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Taupo (17 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Taupo | Caldera | 760 m (2,493 ft) | 260 | 17 km |
| Maroa | Caldera(s) | 897 m (2,943 ft) | 180 | 29 km |
| Reporoa | Caldera | 592 m (1,942 ft) | 1180 | 36 km |
| Tongariro | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,978 m (6,490 ft) | 2012 | 66 km |
| Okataina | Lava dome(s) | 1,111 m (3,645 ft) | 1981 | 72 km |
| Ruapehu | Stratovolcano | 2,797 m (9,177 ft) | 2007 | 80 km |
| Mayor Island | Shield | 355 m (1,165 ft) | -5060 | 157 km |
| Whakaari/White Island | Stratovolcano(es) | 294 m (965 ft) | 2019 | 161 km |
| Taranaki | Stratovolcano | 2,518 m (8,261 ft) | 1800 | 187 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62°F (17°C) | 3.9 in | Warmest |
| February | 62°F (17°C) | 3.9 in | Driest |
| March | 59°F (15°C) | 4.8 in | |
| April | 54°F (12°C) | 3.9 in | |
| May | 49°F (9°C) | 4.6 in | |
| June | 45°F (7°C) | 5.2 in | |
| July | 44°F (6°C) | 4.9 in | Coldest |
| August | 45°F (7°C) | 5.3 in | |
| September | 48°F (9°C) | 5.4 in | Wettest |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 4.6 in | |
| November | 56°F (13°C) | 4.4 in | |
| December | 59°F (15°C) | 5.4 in |
Taupo has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 44°F in July to 62°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 56.4 inches, with September being the wettest month (5.4") and February the driest (3.9").