Climate Insights for Oamaru

The climate in Oamaru is temperate. The average annual temperature is 11°C and approximately 814mm of precipitation falls per year. Oamaru receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Oamaru 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: February, January, December. The coldest months are July, August, June, when temperatures can drop to 5°C.

Oamaru sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 5°C to 18°C. February 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 5°C and an average of 7°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 5°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between March and April, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

Oamaru is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 814mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 68mm per month. The wettest month is November, averaging 102mm of rainfall. February and January also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is June, with just 42mm. That's 60mm 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.

Oamaru is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 4km/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 5km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 4km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 1km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently winter in Oamaru, which began on June 21, 2026. Oamaru 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 February at around 18°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 5°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 92 days from now.

The best time to visit Oamaru is during January and February, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 15°C with modest rainfall averaging 86mm per month. By contrast, July can be quite cold with temperatures 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.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Oamaru 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.