Climate Insights for Port Chalmers

The climate in Port Chalmers is temperate. The average annual temperature is 11°C and approximately 733mm of precipitation falls per year. Port Chalmers receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Port Chalmers 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, August, June, when temperatures can drop to 4°C.

Port Chalmers sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 4°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 4°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 April and May, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

Port Chalmers is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 733mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 61mm per month. The wettest month is November, averaging 78mm of rainfall. January and October also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is August, with just 39mm. That's 39mm less than November, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around.

Port Chalmers is moderately windy, with an average annual wind speed of 27km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 29km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 25km/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. Wind tends to pick up during the summer months. The seasonal averages are 26km/h in winter, 28km/h in spring, 28km/h in summer, 26km/h in autumn.

It is currently autumn in Port Chalmers, which began on March 20, 2026. Port Chalmers 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 4°C. Winter is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Port Chalmers is during January, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 15°C with modest rainfall averaging 78mm per month. By contrast, July can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 4°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.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Port Chalmers 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.