New Zealand

The overall climate of New Zealand is influenced by two main geographic features: the mountains and the ocean.

 

New Zealand is located in the Southern Hemisphere, so seasons are opposite the Northern Hemisphere. The warmest months are December, January, February; the coldest are June, July and August.

 

 In the summer months (south to north), the average high temps are in the low 70's F (21 C), while in the winter months the average highs are near 40 F (4 C), and again, running slightly higher in the north.

 The far-northern reaches of North Island experience sub-tropical weather throughout the year and freezing conditions are quite rare.

 The fall months, March to May, are a bit cooler than summer, but for most of the time, the weather is refreshing, with clear, crisp air.

 Moderately high rainfall is common (25 to 59 inches per year), but so are many hours of sunshine throughout the country. In fact, many places in New Zealand receive over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually.

 

• What is the overall climate of New Zealand influenced by?

• Why can weather change so quickly across the country?

• What Hemisphere is New Zealand located in? How does it influence the seasons?

• What are the coldest and the warmest months?

• What are the average winter and summer temperatures?

• What is the weather in autumn?