Canterbury Weather Forecast
Canterbury weather: 49°F, light drizzle. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.
Canterbury weather in May
Weather map for Canterbury
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Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Climate in Canterbury month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 68° | 55° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| February | 69° | 55° | 2,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| March | 66° | 52° | 2,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 62° | 50° | 2,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 57° | 43° | 1,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 54° | 42° | 3,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| July | 52° | 40° | 1,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| August | 53° | 39° | 1,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| September | 59° | 43° | 2,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 62° | 46° | 2,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 66° | 51° | 1,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| December | 69° | 54° | 2,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
Climate type: Temperate. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Best time to visit Canterbury
Go in January, February, March, November and December. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: June, July and August - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- A packable rain shell - 3 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid June, July and August - historically the least comfortable months here.
How Canterbury compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Canterbury.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast | 104 mi | 54°F | about the same | 117 in |
| South Island | 111 mi | 46°F | 40°F cooler | 60 in |
| Tasman | 154 mi | 53°F | 34°F cooler | 55 in |
| Marlborough | 155 mi | 56°F | +34°F warmer | 33 in |
| Nelson | 160 mi | 56°F | +34°F warmer | 58 in |
See the Canterbury forecast by time range
Canterbury weather - more answers
Explore Canterbury
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Weather for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Canterbury?
Canterbury is a region in New Zealand. Its coordinates are -43.5321, 172.6362. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in Canterbury right now?
It is currently 49°F (9°C) with light drizzle. Humidity is 83% and wind is 10 mph.
When is the best time to visit Canterbury?
January, February, March, November and December offer the most comfortable conditions in Canterbury, which has a temperate climate. June, July and August are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Canterbury in?
Canterbury observes Pacific/Auckland (UTC+12:00). The local time is 9:35 PM.
How many people live in Canterbury?
Canterbury has a population of approximately 660.000.
What is the nearest airport to Canterbury?
The closest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 218 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Canterbury?
Popular options include Aoraki / Mount Cook, South Island, Lake Wakatipu, Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand and Milford Sound.
What places are in Canterbury?
Canterbury covers 3 places in this atlas, including Aoraki / Mount Cook, Christchurch and Kaikoura.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (nz-regions) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 26, 2026 at 9:35 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
