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Weather & Climate in Timaru, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Timaru experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 61°F in January while summers reach 43°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 294 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 23.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 46 feet.
Temperature
61°F Jan (16°C)
43°F Jul (6°C)
| Annual Average | 52.4°F |
| 3% below US avg | |
| January Average | 61°F (16°C) |
| July Average | 43°F (6°C) |
| Sunny Days | 294 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Area | 13.1 sq mi (34.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,241/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -44.3967°N, 171.2536°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
456 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 | 108 km | 12 km |
| Feb 21, 2011 | 6 km SE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M6.1 | 146 km | 6 km |
| Jun 19, 1994 | 40 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M6.0 | 128 km | 10 km |
| Jan 5, 2015 | 43 km SSE of Hokitika, New Zealand | M5.6 | 149 km | 8 km |
| Feb 22, 2011 | 7 km S of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.6 | 141 km | 7 km |
| Feb 22, 2011 | 6 km SSE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M5.5 | 143 km | 6 km |
| Mar 30, 1992 | 57 km NNW of Methven, New Zealand | M5.5 | 139 km | 12 km |
| Sep 19, 2023 | Canterbury, New Zealand | M5.5 | 78 km | 12 km |
| Jun 21, 1994 | 47 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M5.4 | 135 km | 10 km |
| Oct 20, 1998 | 104 km NNE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.4 | 141 km | 10 km |
| Jun 21, 2011 | 1 km SSE of Prebbleton, New Zealand | M5.2 | 135 km | 8 km |
| Jan 19, 2011 | 2 km S of Prebbleton, New Zealand | M5.1 | 134 km | 0 km |
| Sep 3, 2010 | 16 km NNW of Rakaia, New Zealand | M5.1 | 101 km | 10 km |
| Jul 6, 2015 | 56 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.1 | 123 km | 10 km |
| Oct 4, 2010 | 5 km ESE of Prebbleton, New Zealand | M5.1 | 137 km | 10 km |
| Sep 3, 2010 | 6 km NNE of Rolleston, New Zealand | M5.0 | 134 km | 10 km |
| May 9, 2011 | 2 km ESE of Rolleston, New Zealand | M5.0 | 128 km | 12 km |
| Sep 4, 2010 | 15 km SW of Darfield, New Zealand | M5.0 | 108 km | 5 km |
| Jun 5, 2011 | 0 km E of Rolleston, New Zealand | M5.0 | 128 km | 8 km |
| Feb 25, 2011 | 5 km SSE of Christchurch, New Zealand | M4.9 | 145 km | 6 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
1 tsunami 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 | - | 74 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61°F (16°C) | 2.1 in | Warmest |
| February | 61°F (16°C) | 1.9 in | |
| March | 58°F (15°C) | 2.2 in | |
| April | 54°F (12°C) | 2.1 in | |
| May | 48°F (9°C) | 2.2 in | |
| June | 44°F (6°C) | 1.4 in | Driest |
| July | 43°F (6°C) | 1.8 in | Coldest |
| August | 45°F (7°C) | 1.9 in | |
| September | 49°F (9°C) | 1.6 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 2.0 in | |
| November | 56°F (13°C) | 2.0 in | |
| December | 59°F (15°C) | 2.3 in | Wettest |
Timaru has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 43°F in July to 61°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 23.4 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.3") and June the driest (1.4").