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Weather & Climate in Wanaka, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Wanaka experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 58°F in January while summers reach 34°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 243 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 51.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 9.0 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 1,066 feet.
Temperature
58°F Jan (14°C)
34°F Jul (1°C)
| Annual Average | 46.6°F |
| 14% below US avg | |
| January Average | 58°F (14°C) |
| July Average | 34°F (1°C) |
| Sunny Days | 243 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,066 ft (325 m) |
| Area | 11.1 sq mi (28.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,186/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -44.7000°N, 169.1500°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
273 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.8.
| Dec 7, 2001 | 59 km NNW of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.8 | 60 km | 10 km |
| Jun 24, 2020 | 87 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.6 | 133 km | 11 km |
| May 4, 2015 | 28 km NW of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.6 | 29 km | 10 km |
| Aug 12, 2019 | 80 km NW of Queenstown, New Zealand | M5.4 | 100 km | 10 km |
| Oct 20, 1998 | 104 km NNE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.4 | 105 km | 10 km |
| May 2, 2005 | 83 km N of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.4 | 84 km | 13 km |
| Feb 24, 2002 | 79 km NW of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.4 | 80 km | 12 km |
| Nov 29, 1991 | 97 km NW of Queenstown, New Zealand | M5.3 | 110 km | 10 km |
| Jul 10, 1990 | South Island of New Zealand | M5.2 | 91 km | 10 km |
| Jun 12, 2011 | 86 km NW of Arrowtown, New Zealand | M5.2 | 90 km | 5 km |
| Jul 6, 2015 | 56 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.1 | 56 km | 10 km |
| Feb 28, 1996 | 48 km N of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.1 | 122 km | 118 km |
| Aug 21, 2003 | 25 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.1 | 138 km | 12 km |
| May 2, 2005 | 85 km N of Wanaka, New Zealand | M5.0 | 85 km | 14 km |
| Apr 26, 2020 | 56 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M5.0 | 129 km | 78 km |
| Jun 8, 2019 | 85 km NW of Arrowtown, New Zealand | M4.9 | 91 km | 35 km |
| Aug 5, 1999 | 89 km NW of Queenstown, New Zealand | M4.9 | 112 km | 33 km |
| Jan 30, 2017 | 72 km NNW of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.9 | 73 km | 10 km |
| Feb 24, 2020 | 79 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand | M4.9 | 141 km | 10 km |
| Oct 21, 2000 | 80 km NNW of Wanaka, New Zealand | M4.9 | 80 km | 12 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2002 | ALBERT TOWN | Meteorological | - | - | 4 km |
| 1886 | JACKSON BAY, SOUTH ISLAND | Meteorological | - | - | 93 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58°F (14°C) | 4.0 in | Warmest |
| February | 58°F (14°C) | 2.6 in | Driest |
| March | 54°F (12°C) | 4.0 in | |
| April | 48°F (9°C) | 3.2 in | |
| May | 41°F (5°C) | 4.0 in | |
| June | 35°F (2°C) | 4.3 in | |
| July | 34°F (1°C) | 4.7 in | Coldest |
| August | 38°F (3°C) | 4.5 in | |
| September | 43°F (6°C) | 6.3 in | Wettest |
| October | 47°F (8°C) | 6.1 in | |
| November | 51°F (11°C) | 3.3 in | |
| December | 55°F (13°C) | 4.5 in |
Wanaka has a seasonal temperature swing of 24°F / from 34°F in July to 58°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 51.3 inches, with September being the wettest month (6.3") and February the driest (2.6").