Climate Insights for Timaru

The climate in Timaru is temperate. The average annual temperature is 12°C and approximately 661mm of precipitation falls per year. Timaru receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Timaru 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 6°C.

Timaru sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 6°C to 18°C. January is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 18°C with a mean of 16°C. July is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 6°C and an average of 8°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 4°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between May and June, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

Timaru is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 661mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 55mm per month. The wettest month is December, averaging 70mm of rainfall. July and November also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is September, with just 36mm. That's 34mm less than December, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around.

Timaru 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 January, averaging 30km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in June, with average winds dropping to 23km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 7km/h between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to pick up during the summer months. The seasonal averages are 24km/h in winter, 29km/h in spring, 29km/h in summer, 27km/h in autumn.

It is currently autumn in Timaru, which began on March 20, 2026. Timaru 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 18°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 6°C. Winter is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Timaru is during January and February, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 16°C with modest rainfall averaging 61mm per month. By contrast, July can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 6°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 Timaru 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.