Climate Insights for Hornby Island

The climate in Hornby Island is temperate. The average annual temperature is 10°C and approximately 1764mm of precipitation falls per year. January is the wettest month, receiving around 290mm of rainfall. Hornby Island is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, June. The coldest months are February, December, January, when temperatures can drop to 3°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 106cm accumulating over the season.

Hornby Island sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 3°C to 23°C. August is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 23°C with a mean of 19°C. February is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 3°C and an average of 4°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 5°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Hornby Island is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1764mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 147mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 290mm of rainfall. November and December also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 25mm. That's 265mm less than January, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 106cm accumulating over the season. December typically sees the most snow at around 32cm.

Hornby Island is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 11km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is November, averaging 14km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 9km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 5km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 13km/h in winter, 11km/h in spring, 9km/h in summer, 12km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Hornby Island, which began on March 20, 2026. Hornby Island is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in August at around 23°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in February near 3°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Hornby Island is during June, July and August, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 42mm per month. By contrast, February can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 3°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Hornby Island based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.