West Coast Weather Forecast
West Coast weather: 55°F, thunderstorm. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.
Will it rain in West Coast?
Yes - rain is likely in West Coast today.
A 100% chance means rain is expected over most of the area. Plan indoor alternatives. Around 1,2 in is forecast, which is enough to soak trails and slow traffic.
Over the next 7 days, about 9,0 in of precipitation is forecast, with the wettest days falling on Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu and Fri.
The next 7 days carry about 5 times a normal week's rain for August (9,0 in against 1,8 in).
16-day forecast for West Coast
Daily highs and lows, precipitation and UV.
| Day | Conditions | High / Low | Precip | Wind | UV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 22 | ⛈️ Thunderstorm | 55° / 46° | 100% · 1,2 in | 23 mph | 1 |
| Sun, Aug 23 | ⛈️ Thunderstorm | 55° / 44° | 100% · 1,3 in | 29 mph | 4 |
| Mon, Aug 24 | 🌦️ Drizzle | 55° / 42° | 87% · 0,1 in | 14 mph | 3 |
| Tue, Aug 25 | 🌧️ Showers | 57° / 51° | 98% · 0,8 in | 17 mph | 1 |
| Wed, Aug 26 | 🌧️ Showers | 58° / 54° | 100% · 1,1 in | 17 mph | 2 |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 🌧️ Showers | 56° / 53° | 100% · 1,8 in | 17 mph | 1 |
| Fri, Aug 28 | ⛈️ Thunderstorm | 58° / 54° | 92% · 2,6 in | 23 mph | 0 |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 🌦️ Light showers | 56° / 51° | 73% · 0,4 in | 18 mph | 3 |
| Sun, Aug 30 | 🌦️ Light showers | 51° / 47° | 73% · 0,7 in | 18 mph | 3 |
| Mon, Aug 31 | 🌦️ Drizzle | 57° / 50° | 50% · 0,3 in | 15 mph | 2 |
| Tue, Sep 1 | 🌦️ Drizzle | 56° / 53° | 67% · 0,4 in | 19 mph | 4 |
| Wed, Sep 2 | 🌧️ Heavy drizzle | 53° / 45° | 71% · 0,4 in | 14 mph | 3 |
| Thu, Sep 3 | ☁️ Overcast | 55° / 43° | 54% | 7 mph | 3 |
| Fri, Sep 4 | 🌦️ Light showers | 56° / 48° | 51% · 0,9 in | 14 mph | 1 |
| Sat, Sep 5 | 🌧️ Showers | 57° / 50° | 57% · 1,2 in | 12 mph | 2 |
| Sun, Sep 6 | 🌧️ Showers | 56° / 48° | 55% · 0,7 in | 17 mph | 1 |
What this means for West Coast
Today is about average for August. The forecast high of 55°F is in line with the 54°F typical for this month.
A 100% chance means rain is expected over most of the area. Plan indoor alternatives. Around 1,2 in is forecast, which is enough to soak trails and slow traffic.
Gusts to 47 mph will push high-sided vehicles on exposed roads and bridges. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Southern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in December to February.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 48°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- A packable rain shell - 7 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- Avoid exposed ridgelines, small boats and rooftop viewpoints while gusts stay above 47 mph.
- If your dates are flexible, avoid June, July and September - historically the least comfortable months here.
See the West Coast forecast by time range
West Coast weather - more answers
Explore West Coast
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Weather for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is West Coast?
West Coast is a region in New Zealand. Its coordinates are -42.45, 171.21. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in West Coast right now?
It is currently 55°F (13°C) with thunderstorm. Humidity is 97% and wind is 21 mph.
When is the best time to visit West Coast?
February offer the most comfortable conditions in West Coast, which has a temperate climate. June, July and September are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is West Coast in?
West Coast observes Pacific/Auckland (UTC+12:00). The local time is 7:14 PM.
How many people live in West Coast?
West Coast has a population of approximately 32.000.
What is the nearest airport to West Coast?
The closest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 216 mi away.
What are the top things to do in West Coast?
Popular options include Aoraki / Mount Cook, South Island, Lake Wakatipu, Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand and Milford Sound.
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 22, 2026 at 7:14 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
