Wellington Temperatures | Wellington Sunshine Hours | Weather of Wellington
Wellington is located on the south coast of New Zealand’s North Island and enjoys a temperate climate, with an all-year-round absence of temperature extremes.
Strong winds are a feature of Wellington’s climate.
Similar Latitude Cities
Wellington sits on a latitude of 41.2 degrees South. Cities on similar latitudes in the Northern hemisphere include Rome, Italy and Salt Lake City, Utah. Wellington is cooler in summer than these northern hemisphere cities because of the moderating effects of the surrounding Pacific Ocean.
Climate Data for Wellington
Sunshine (per day)
|Av. No. Days
with at least
New Zealand Moves North
Where would New Zealand be located, if it could be moved to the Northern Hemisphere location equal to its current Southern Hemisphere location?
The Sun above Wellington
The main weather hazard faced by Wellington’s residents is the strength of the sun – particularly in summer.
- In high summer, the sunshine in New Zealand is really strong. You’ll burn more easily in New Zealand than anywhere in the Mediterranean.
- There are three reasons why the sun in the Southern Hemisphere is so strong.
- There is less ozone to block the UV rays that cause sunburn.
- Earth’s orbit takes it closer to the sun during the southern summer than during the northern summer.
- There is less pollution in the southern hemisphere to block the UV rays.
- The sun’s burning strength is measured by the UV index. The highest possible UV index at sea-level is about 20. This can occur at midday in equatorial regions. Any reading higher than 10 is extreme in terms of skin-damage.
- The UV Index in the Mediterranean in high-summer reaches 9 or 10.
- The people in Florida are fried on a just a few days each summer when the index reaches 12.
- In New Zealand the summer index often exceeds 12.
Return to the New Zealand Climate Guide.