April is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson, with average highs near 4.9°C and lows around -3.7°C (mean 0.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 59 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
April is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson. Across 45 years of records, the warmest April in Nelson was 2004 — when the month averaged 5.3°C — while the coldest was 1982 at -4.7°C. Typical April days reach 4.9°C with nights near -3.7°C. The long-term trend is cooling, about 0.4°C per decade.
April is about average for rainfall in Nelson, averaging 59 mm of rainfall. The wettest April on record was 2018 with 117 mm, while the driest was 1995 at 29 mm.
Relative humidity in Nelson during April averages 83%. The most humid April was 2011 at 98%, and the least humid was 2004 at 68%.
April receives about 4.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Nelson. The sunniest Aprils were 2004, 2021 and 2025 at 5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2003 and 2017 at 3.6.
Average wind speed in Nelson during April is 0.4 m/s. The windiest Aprils were 1981, 2020 and 2021 at 0.5 m/s, while the calmest were 2001, 2017 and 2024, among others at 0.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 0.5°C | 1.5°C | 1.1°C | 0.0°C | -0.8°C | -1.3°C |
| Avg High | 5.0°C | 6.0°C | 5.8°C | 3.9°C | 3.4°C | -1.6°C |
| Avg Low | -3.9°C | -3.0°C | -3.5°C | -4.0°C | -4.9°C | -1°C |
| Avg Rain | 59 mm | 51 mm | 53 mm | 73 mm | 60 mm | +1 mm |
April temperatures in Nelson have risen by about 0.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
April has ranged from a record low of -18.8°C (2020) to a record high of 21.7°C (2023).
Rainfall in April is about average for rainfall, averaging 59 mm, with a wettest year of 117 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs fell about 0.5°C per decade while lows fell 0.3°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Nelson
April is a good time to visit Nelson, with days averaging 4.9°C and nights around -3.7°C (mean 0.6°C, cooler than Nelson's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. August and July are marginally more temperate, but April still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.5°C | -1.4°C | -5.3°C | 12.2°C | -12.2°C | 59 mm | 94% | 0.4 m/s | 5 |
| 2024 | 4.0°C | 0.2°C | -3.6°C | 12.2°C | -7.8°C | 74 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2023 | 1.9°C | -1.7°C | -5.3°C | 21.7°C | -15.5°C | 99 mm | 93% | 0.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2022 | 3.9°C | -0.5°C | -5.0°C | 11.4°C | -13.7°C | 52 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2021 | 7.2°C | 1.6°C | -3.9°C | 17.3°C | -12.7°C | 34 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | 5 |
| 2020 | 0.8°C | -2.9°C | -6.6°C | 11.3°C | -18.8°C | 41 mm | 93% | 0.5 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2019 | 6.8°C | 2.3°C | -2.2°C | 12.7°C | -7.2°C | 61 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2018 🌧️ | 0.3°C | -2.7°C | -5.6°C | 4.3°C | -14.4°C | 117 mm | 94% | 0.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2017 | 0.6°C | -2.0°C | -4.6°C | 4.1°C | -12.8°C | 102 mm | 97% | 0.3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2016 | 8.8°C | 4.5°C | 0.2°C | 20.2°C | -5.0°C | 52 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2015 | 7.6°C | 2.6°C | -2.5°C | 17.4°C | -8.1°C | 47 mm | 72% | 0.4 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2014 | 3.4°C | -0.3°C | -3.9°C | 17.7°C | -12.6°C | 77 mm | 88% | 0.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2013 | 2.2°C | -1.3°C | -4.8°C | 15.5°C | -12.4°C | 69 mm | 89% | 0.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2012 | 3.6°C | -0.2°C | -4.0°C | 17.1°C | -13.8°C | 71 mm | 91% | 0.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2011 | -0.4°C | -3.9°C | -7.5°C | 0.6°C | -12.9°C | 77 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 4 |
| 2010 | 5.9°C | 0.7°C | -4.6°C | 19.5°C | -15.2°C | 61 mm | 82% | 0.4 m/s | 4 |
| 2009 | 4.3°C | -0.1°C | -4.5°C | 17.2°C | -11.8°C | 34 mm | 77% | 0.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2008 | 0.4°C | -3.6°C | -7.6°C | 11.0°C | -15.7°C | 41 mm | 93% | 0.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2007 | 4.9°C | 0.4°C | -4.1°C | 14.1°C | -15.9°C | 45 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 4 |
| 2006 | 5.4°C | 1.5°C | -2.5°C | 17.7°C | -8.7°C | 72 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2005 | 8.8°C | 3.4°C | -2.0°C | 20.3°C | -5.8°C | 50 mm | 71% | 0.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2004 🔥 | 11.4°C | 5.3°C | -0.8°C | 18.3°C | -5.9°C | 36 mm | 68% | 0.4 m/s | 5 |
| 2003 | 6.2°C | 1.7°C | -2.7°C | 16.5°C | -10.2°C | 70 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2002 | 3.9°C | -0.3°C | -4.4°C | 15.5°C | -14.1°C | 49 mm | 84% | 0.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2001 | 6.4°C | 1.7°C | -3.0°C | 18.0°C | -7.8°C | 70 mm | 76% | 0.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2000 | 6.0°C | 1.2°C | -3.5°C | 15.9°C | -8.0°C | 66 mm | 81% | 0.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1999 | 2.0°C | -1.9°C | -5.8°C | 13.6°C | -13.3°C | 37 mm | 89% | 0.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1998 | 8.5°C | 3.8°C | -0.8°C | 20.4°C | -5.0°C | 33 mm | 71% | 0.4 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1997 | 0.0°C | -3.9°C | -7.9°C | 5.7°C | -17.5°C | 49 mm | 95% | 0.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1996 | 4.7°C | 1.0°C | -2.7°C | 10.2°C | -12.0°C | 74 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 4 |
| 1995 | 5.2°C | 0.7°C | -3.7°C | 14.2°C | -6.8°C | 29 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1994 | 9.2°C | 4.2°C | -0.9°C | 17.9°C | -5.9°C | 54 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1993 | 6.8°C | 2.6°C | -1.6°C | 12.2°C | -5.5°C | 67 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1992 | 9.3°C | 4.1°C | -1.0°C | 17.6°C | -5.8°C | 63 mm | 71% | 0.4 m/s | 4 |
| 1991 | 4.7°C | 0.4°C | -4.0°C | 16.9°C | -12.0°C | 57 mm | 84% | 0.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1990 | 9.6°C | 4.2°C | -1.2°C | 14.9°C | -5.8°C | 48 mm | 74% | 0.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1989 | 6.3°C | 1.6°C | -3.0°C | 17.0°C | -10.0°C | 57 mm | 80% | 0.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1988 | 7.4°C | 2.5°C | -2.4°C | 20.6°C | -12.4°C | 62 mm | 80% | 0.4 m/s | 4 |
| 1987 | 9.5°C | 4.4°C | -0.7°C | 21.0°C | -7.1°C | 36 mm | 73% | 0.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1986 | 6.7°C | 1.8°C | -3.0°C | 16.1°C | -8.5°C | 52 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1985 | 5.1°C | 1.0°C | -3.1°C | 13.5°C | -10.3°C | 43 mm | 81% | 0.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1984 | 4.2°C | 0.2°C | -3.8°C | 14.3°C | -8.1°C | 68 mm | 85% | 0.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1983 | 2.7°C | -1.0°C | -4.6°C | 13.3°C | -14.2°C | 69 mm | 88% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | -0.5°C | -4.7°C | -8.9°C | 4.8°C | -15.4°C | 66 mm | 95% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 3.4°C | -0.9°C | -5.2°C | 14.2°C | -12.9°C | 74 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded April data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in April is around 4.9°C with lows near -3.7°C (mean 0.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
April averages 59 mm of rainfall in Nelson, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 117 mm in 2018.
The hottest April reached 21.7°C in 2023. The coldest dipped to -18.8°C in 2020.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average April temperatures have risen by about 0.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 3°C to 3.9°C and overnight lows from -5.1°C to -4.6°C over the same span.
April is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 4.9°C daytime highs and -3.7°C at night.
Not quite — April is the 6th coolest month in Nelson, averaging 0.6°C.
For April in Nelson, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 4.9°C and lows of -3.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in April averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in April is 0.4 m/s. The windiest April on record averaged 0.5 m/s (1981).
The wettest April on record was 2018 with 117 mm. On average, April sees 59 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Nelson behaves each April, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for April specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
