New Zealand weather is largely temperate, dominated by the country’s two main geographical features: the mountains and the sea. As most parts of the country lie in close proximity to the sea, New Zealand weather is characterized by mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine. Despite its dominant pleasant attributes, you should be aware that weather in New Zealand is also renewed for its unpredictability with frequent changes in both weather and temperature. It’s not unusual for all four seasons to parade in front of the unsuspecting visitor within the short span of a single day.
Named by the local Maori people ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’, New Zealand experiences subtropical weather conditions in the far north and alpine weather patterns in the inland mountainous regions.
Summer
Since it’s located in the Southern Hemisphere, summer season in New Zealand coincides with the months between December and February. High temperatures and abundant sunshine dominate conditions, making the season an ideal time for outdoor activities.
Autumn
Commencing in March and running through to May, autumn in New Zealand is largely a time of mild to warm weather conditions, although temperatures tend to fall slightly in comparison to summer. It is however possible to swim in some places until April.
Winter
New Zealand weather becomes increasingly colder as winter rolls in. The North Island receives significantly more rainfall than the South Island; despite its cooler temperatures, some inland areas of the latter experience little rainfall in winter, offering abundant opportunities to visit local glaciers and mountains. The mountainous regions in both islands are snow-capped providing the perfect conditions for skiing.
Spring
Spring lasts from September to November. During this time New Zealand weather is at its most unpredictable: it’s not uncommon for cold, frosty conditions to be intercepted by prolonged periods of warm weather.
Sunshine
As mentioned earlier, New Zealand is a land blessed by abundant sunshine. As a matter of fact, most places receive over 2,000 hours of sunshine a year, while its sunniest areas Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Nelson and Marlborough, experience as much as 2,350 hours of sunshine per year. Sunshine levels tend to be at their highest during the summer season, although there is still plenty of sun to go around for most regions of the country, even during the winter season.
New Zealand Rainfall
New Zealand experiences rather high amounts of rainfall. Averaging between 640 milemetres and 1500 milemetres annually, rainfall is evenly spread throughout the year.
Copyright © Advert Network
