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Weather & Climate in Wairakei, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Wairakei experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 62°F in January while summers reach 43°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 234 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 56.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 1,230 feet.
Temperature
62°F Jan (17°C)
43°F Jul (6°C)
| Annual Average | 52.5°F |
| 3% below US avg | |
| January Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| July Average | 43°F (6°C) |
| Sunny Days | 234 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,230 ft (375 m) |
| Area | 16.6 sq mi (42.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 31/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -38.6333°N, 176.1000°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,403 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 | 127 km | 14 km |
| Dec 7, 2012 | 27 km SE of Tokoroa, New Zealand | M6.3 | 23 km | 163 km |
| Jun 21, 1992 | 31 km NNW of Whakatane, New Zealand | M6.2 | 124 km | 10 km |
| Oct 25, 1999 | 24 km W of Taupo, New Zealand | M6.2 | 27 km | 159 km |
| May 18, 1999 | 54 km S of Otorohanga, New Zealand | M5.8 | 73 km | 283 km |
| Apr 11, 1993 | 28 km WSW of Hastings, New Zealand | M5.7 | 129 km | 33 km |
| Jul 18, 2004 | 20 km WNW of Kawerau, New Zealand | M5.6 | 79 km | 5 km |
| Oct 16, 2012 | 8 km NE of Taupo, New Zealand | M5.6 | 6 km | 111 km |
| Mar 25, 1992 | 28 km N of Whakatane, New Zealand | M5.6 | 129 km | 33 km |
| Jan 27, 2011 | 21 km NNW of Taupo, New Zealand | M5.6 | 17 km | 158 km |
| May 24, 2001 | 38 km WNW of Turangi, New Zealand | M5.5 | 67 km | 261 km |
| Oct 15, 2001 | 21 km WSW of Hastings, New Zealand | M5.5 | 127 km | 48 km |
| Jul 5, 2011 | 29 km W of Taupo, New Zealand | M5.5 | 31 km | 152 km |
| Sep 25, 1996 | 57 km ENE of Eltham, New Zealand | M5.4 | 121 km | 226 km |
| Mar 23, 1999 | 12 km NNW of Edgecumbe, New Zealand | M5.4 | 104 km | 148 km |
| Jul 8, 2006 | 34 km N of Napier, New Zealand | M5.3 | 91 km | 30 km |
| Apr 8, 2006 | 20 km SE of Tokoroa, New Zealand | M5.3 | 31 km | 158 km |
| Jul 12, 1991 | 23 km ENE of Waiouru, New Zealand | M5.3 | 84 km | 67 km |
| Aug 8, 2000 | 51 km ESE of Turangi, New Zealand | M5.3 | 70 km | 64 km |
| Mar 17, 2023 | 8 km WNW of Kawerau, New Zealand | M5.3 | 78 km | 10 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 | 127 km |
| 1910 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Meteorological | 1.5 m | 1 | 49 km |
| 2022 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 25 km |
| 1956 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.9 m | — | 39 km |
| 1895 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 21 km |
| 1846 | LAKE TAUPO, NORTH ISLAND | Unknown | — | — | 49 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
9 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Taupo (23 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Taupo | Caldera | 760 m (2,493 ft) | 260 | 23 km |
| Maroa | Caldera(s) | 897 m (2,943 ft) | 180 | 24 km |
| Reporoa | Caldera | 592 m (1,942 ft) | 1180 | 31 km |
| Okataina | Lava dome(s) | 1,111 m (3,645 ft) | 1981 | 67 km |
| Tongariro | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,978 m (6,490 ft) | 2012 | 71 km |
| Ruapehu | Stratovolcano | 2,797 m (9,177 ft) | 2007 | 85 km |
| Mayor Island | Shield | 355 m (1,165 ft) | -5060 | 151 km |
| Whakaari/White Island | Stratovolcano(es) | 294 m (965 ft) | 2019 | 156 km |
| Taranaki | Stratovolcano | 2,518 m (8,261 ft) | 1800 | 191 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62°F (17°C) | 4.1 in | Warmest |
| February | 62°F (17°C) | 3.9 in | |
| March | 59°F (15°C) | 4.5 in | |
| April | 53°F (12°C) | 3.8 in | Driest |
| May | 48°F (9°C) | 4.7 in | |
| June | 44°F (7°C) | 5.6 in | Wettest |
| July | 43°F (6°C) | 5.2 in | Coldest |
| August | 45°F (7°C) | 5.4 in | |
| September | 48°F (9°C) | 5.2 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 4.5 in | |
| November | 55°F (13°C) | 4.4 in | |
| December | 59°F (15°C) | 5.3 in |
Wairakei has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 43°F in July to 62°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 56.4 inches, with June being the wettest month (5.6") and April the driest (3.8").