# Climate Insights for Invercargill

*Source: [Airpult](https://airpult.com/climate/nz/invercargill/7401648082): Invercargill City, Southland, New Zealand*

The climate in Invercargill is temperate. The average annual temperature is 11°C and approximately 1240mm of precipitation falls per year. Invercargill receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Invercargill is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed: summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: January, February, December. The coldest months are July, June, August, when temperatures can drop to 5°C.

## Key insights

- **Hottest month:** January (peak 19°C)
- **Coldest month:** July (low 5°C)
- **Wettest month:** October (125 mm)
- **Best time to visit:** February

## Monthly climate data

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Invercargill 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. 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.

| Month | Avg low (°C) | Avg high (°C) | Mean (°C) | Precip (mm) | Wind (km/h) | Snow (cm) |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Jan | 12 | 19 | 15 | 110 | 19 | 0 |
| Feb | 12 | 19 | 15 | 98 | 18 | 0 |
| Mar | 11 | 18 | 14 | 92 | 17 | 0 |
| Apr | 10 | 15 | 12 | 107 | 21 | 0 |
| May | 8 | 13 | 10 | 103 | 19 | 0 |
| Jun | 5 | 11 | 8 | 83 | 17 | 0 |
| Jul | 5 | 10 | 7 | 98 | 18 | 0 |
| Aug | 6 | 11 | 8 | 83 | 18 | 0 |
| Sep (current) | 7 | 13 | 10 | 123 | 21 | 1 |
| Oct | 8 | 14 | 11 | 125 | 21 | 0 |
| Nov | 10 | 16 | 13 | 110 | 19 | 0 |
| Dec | 12 | 18 | 14 | 107 | 20 | 0 |

## Temperature

Invercargill sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 5°C to 19°C. January is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 19°C with a mean of 15°C. July is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 5°C and an average of 7°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 6°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between May and June, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

## Precipitation

Invercargill is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1240mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 103mm per month. The wettest month is October, averaging 125mm of rainfall. September and November also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is August, with just 83mm. That's 42mm less than October, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around.

## Wind

Invercargill is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 19km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is September, averaging 21km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in June, with average winds dropping to 17km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 4km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

## Seasons

Currently it is **winter** (astronomical) / **winter** (meteorological) in Invercargill.
Spring begins September 23, 2026 (8 days from now).

| Season | Begins |
| --- | --- |
| Spring | September 23 |
| Summer | December 21 |
| Autumn | March 20 |
| Winter | June 21 |

It is currently winter in Invercargill, which began on June 21, 2026. Invercargill is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed: spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in January at around 19°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 5°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (8 days from now).

### Spring

Temperatures range from 7 to 16°C. Rainfall is heavy, totalling around 359mm across the season with a monthly average of 120mm. Winds are moderate at around 21km/h. An umbrella or waterproof jacket is advisable as spring showers are frequent.

### Summer

Temperatures range from 12 to 19°C. Rainfall is heavy, totalling around 314mm across the season with a monthly average of 105mm. Winds are moderate at around 19km/h. Comfortable clothing with a light layer for cooler evenings is all you need.

### Autumn

Temperatures range from 8 to 18°C. Rainfall is heavy, totalling around 302mm across the season with a monthly average of 101mm. Winds are moderate at around 19km/h. A waterproof jacket and sturdy footwear are recommended as rain becomes more frequent.

### Winter

Temperatures range from 5 to 11°C. Precipitation is moderate at around 265mm for the season, averaging 88mm per month. Winds are moderate at around 18km/h. A light jacket or sweater is usually sufficient, though cooler evenings may call for an extra layer.

## Best time to visit

Recommended months: February.

The best time to visit Invercargill is during February, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 15°C with modest rainfall averaging 98mm per month. By contrast, January can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 19°C, while July is the coldest period with lows dropping to 5°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely. Pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.