South Island Weather Forecast
South Island weather: 51°F, overcast. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.
South Island weather in December
Weather map for South Island
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Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Climate in South Island 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 | 65° | 47° | 4,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| February | 66° | 48° | 2,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| March | 62° | 45° | 2,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 56° | 41° | 6,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 49° | 35° | 3,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 42° | 32° | 5,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| July | 40° | 29° | 5,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| August | 44° | 30° | 4,6 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| September | 48° | 33° | 6,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| October | 52° | 36° | 10,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| November | 60° | 42° | 3,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 63° | 46° | 5,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
Climate type: Subarctic. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Best time to visit South Island
Go in February. 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 - 2 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid June, July and October - historically the least comfortable months here.
How South Island compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against South Island.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aoraki / Mount Cook | 31 mi | 12°F | 66°F cooler | 194 in |
| Wanaka | 85 mi | 52°F | +38°F warmer | 59 in |
| West Coast | 110 mi | 54°F | +40°F warmer | 120 in |
| Canterbury | 111 mi | 54°F | +41°F warmer | 28 in |
| Christchurch | 111 mi | 54°F | +41°F warmer | 28 in |
See the South Island forecast by time range
South Island weather - more answers
Explore South Island
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 South Island?
South Island is an island in New Zealand. Its coordinates are -43.9535, 170.5. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in South Island right now?
It is currently 51°F (11°C) with overcast. Humidity is 62% and wind is 5 mph.
When is the best time to visit South Island?
February offer the most comfortable conditions in South Island, which has a subarctic climate. June, July and October are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is South Island in?
South Island observes Pacific/Auckland (UTC+13:00). The local time is 12:55 AM.
What is the nearest airport to South Island?
The closest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 114 mi away.
What are the top things to do in South Island?
Popular options include Aoraki / Mount Cook, Lake Wakatipu, Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand, Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (islands) - 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 October 2, 2026 at 12:55 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
