Climate in New Zealand
Extras
New Zealand has a mild temperature, and the climate remains temperate throughout the whole country for the majority of the year. Rarely does the temperature fall below 0 degrees Celsius, nor rise above 30 degrees Celsius in the more populated urban areas.
New Zealand, like Australia, feels all of its seasons distinctly. From December to February it is summer, March through to May is autumn time, June to August is winter time, and September to November is springtime. Conditions vary greatly across the different regions and islands. The west coast of the South Island experiences torrential downpouring, the Canterbury fields region can be semi-arid, and the North Island is subtropical in the summer months, fine weather with good beaches for surfing.
Christchurch is the driest city in New Zealand, which gets about 640mm of rainfall per year. Auckland is the wettest of all the cities in New Zealand and receives about 1300 mm per year. Snow does fall in New Zealand, at higher elevations in the more subtropical North Island, and more commonly at sea level on the South Island. Many people travel to New Zealand for the fantastic snow conditions, to go skiing or snowboarding. If you’re deciding you want to hit the slopes in New Zealand, consider taking out Snow Sports Cover and read the Product Disclosure Statement to access available coverage.
Though it’s not frequent, New Zealand has been known to be hit by some severe weather events. Snowstorms and blizzards can occur, particularly on the South Island where temperatures are much cooler, and land masses more elevated.
Because the North Island is subtropical, the country can be hit by extra-tropical systems, storms brewing on the south and finishing in the more tropical north, which can cause a lot of damage.
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