Climate Insights for Nelson

The climate in Nelson is cool. The average annual temperature is 5°C and approximately 985mm of precipitation falls per year. Nelson receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Nelson is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are February, January, December, when temperatures can drop to -9°C. Nelson experiences heavy snowfall, typically from January through December.

Temperatures in Nelson vary considerably across the year, with a 34°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 25°C with a mean of 18°C. The coldest month is February, when overnight lows fall to -9°C and the daily average is -6°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 10°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between September and October, with a 8°C shift in average temperatures.

Nelson is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 985mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 82mm per month. The wettest month is November, averaging 118mm of rainfall. December and October also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 40mm. That's 79mm less than November, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the first half (January to June) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Nelson receives heavy snowfall, accumulating around 527cm annually from January through December. The snowiest month is December, with approximately 104cm. Winter travel should account for significant snow cover.

Nelson is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 1km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is July, averaging 1km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in January, with average winds dropping to 1km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 0km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Nelson, which began on June 21, 2026. Nelson 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 July at around 25°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in February near -9°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (14 days from now).

The best time to visit Nelson is during July and August, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 40mm per month. By contrast, February can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to -9°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 Nelson 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.