Otago Weather Forecast
Otago weather: 45°F, light drizzle. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.
Otago weather in May
Weather map for Otago
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Climate in Otago 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 | 63° | 50° | 4,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| February | 65° | 50° | 3,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| March | 62° | 48° | 3,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 60° | 46° | 2,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 54° | 40° | 1,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 51° | 39° | 3,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| July | 51° | 38° | 4,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| August | 52° | 37° | 1,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| September | 56° | 41° | 3,4 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| October | 58° | 42° | 6,2 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| November | 61° | 46° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| December | 63° | 49° | 5,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Temperate. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Best time to visit Otago
Go in January, February, March, April and November. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: June, July and October - 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 - 4 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- Avoid exposed ridgelines, small boats and rooftop viewpoints while gusts stay above 56 mph.
- If your dates are flexible, avoid June, July and October - historically the least comfortable months here.
How Otago compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Otago.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southland | 121 mi | 48°F | 34°F cooler | 56 in |
| South Island | 133 mi | 46°F | 37°F cooler | 60 in |
| Fiordland National Park | 138 mi | 50°F | about the same | 86 in |
| Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand | 153 mi | 53°F | +35°F warmer | 222 in |
| Milford Sound | 153 mi | 53°F | +35°F warmer | 222 in |
See the Otago forecast by time range
Otago weather - more answers
Explore Otago
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 Otago?
Otago is a region in New Zealand. Its coordinates are -45.8788, 170.5028. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in Otago right now?
It is currently 45°F (7°C) with light drizzle. Humidity is 62% and wind is 24 mph.
When is the best time to visit Otago?
January, February, March, April and November offer the most comfortable conditions in Otago, which has a temperate climate. June, July and October are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Otago in?
Otago observes Pacific/Auckland (UTC+12:00). The local time is 1:44 AM.
How many people live in Otago?
Otago has a population of approximately 255.000.
What is the nearest airport to Otago?
The closest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 104 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Otago?
Popular options include Lake Wakatipu, South Island, Fiordland National Park, Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand, Milford Sound and Aoraki / Mount Cook.
What places are in Otago?
Otago covers 4 places in this atlas, including Dunedin, Queenstown, Wanaka and Lake Wakatipu.
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 24, 2026 at 1:44 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
