Climate Insights for Chatham

The climate in Chatham is temperate. The average annual temperature is 11°C and approximately 1212mm of precipitation falls per year. Chatham receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Chatham is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, September. The coldest months are February, January, March, when temperatures can drop to 1°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 62cm accumulating over the season.

Temperatures in Chatham vary considerably across the year, with a 21°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. August is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 22°C with a mean of 21°C. February is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 1°C and an average of 3°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 3°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between May and June, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Chatham is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1212mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 101mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 137mm of rainfall. October and December also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is August, with just 67mm. That's 70mm less than January, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 62cm accumulating over the season. February typically sees the most snow at around 21cm.

Chatham is very windy, with an average annual wind speed of 36km/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 44km/h, which can feel quite blustery and may affect outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 28km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 16km/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 43km/h in winter, 38km/h in spring, 29km/h in summer, 36km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Chatham, which began on March 20, 2026. Chatham 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 22°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in February near 1°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 92 days from now.

The best time to visit Chatham is during June, July and August, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 19°C with modest rainfall averaging 68mm per month. By contrast, February can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 1°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 Chatham 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.