February is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson, with average highs near -4.3°C and lows around -13.3°C (mean -8.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 56 mm of rainfall and 99% relative humidity across the period.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson. Across 45 years of records, the warmest February in Nelson was 1991 — when the month averaged -4.1°C — while the coldest was 2019 at -15.2°C. Typical February days reach -4.3°C with nights near -13.3°C. The long-term trend is cooling, about 0.3°C per decade.
February is about average for rainfall in Nelson, averaging 56 mm of rainfall. The wettest February on record was 2017 with 119 mm, while the driest was 2005 at 14 mm.
Relative humidity in Nelson during February averages 99%. The most humid February was 2010 at 99%, and the least humid was 1996 at 96%.
February receives about 1.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Nelson. The sunniest February was 2005 at 2.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2007 at 1.5.
Average wind speed in Nelson during February is 0.5 m/s. The windiest Februarys were 2019, 2020 and 2021, among others at 0.6 m/s, while the calmest were 1981, 1991 and 1994 at 0.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -9.0°C | -8.2°C | -8.3°C | -9.4°C | -9.4°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg High | -4.6°C | -3.8°C | -3.6°C | -4.9°C | -5.0°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg Low | -13.4°C | -12.5°C | -13.0°C | -14.0°C | -13.8°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 58 mm | 54 mm | 39 mm | 68 mm | 65 mm | +7 mm |
February temperatures in Nelson have fallen by about 1.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
February has ranged from a record low of -40°C (1989) to a record high of 1.4°C (1986).
Rainfall in February is about average for rainfall, averaging 56 mm, with a wettest year of 119 mm.
A quieter season to visit Nelson
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Nelson. That said, February — with days averaging -4.3°C and nights around -13.3°C (mean -8.8°C) and moderate rainfall (56 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -7.0°C | -11.3°C | -15.6°C | 0.3°C | -26.5°C | 81 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2024 | -2.9°C | -7.3°C | -11.6°C | 1.4°C | -25.2°C | 97 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2023 | -5.0°C | -9.1°C | -13.3°C | 0.0°C | -31.4°C | 80 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2022 | -4.3°C | -8.8°C | -13.4°C | 0.1°C | -29.1°C | 34 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2021 | -7.0°C | -11.6°C | -16.3°C | 0.1°C | -31.8°C | 46 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2020 | -3.7°C | -8.3°C | -12.9°C | 0.1°C | -20.9°C | 52 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2019 ❄️ | -9.9°C | -15.2°C | -20.5°C | -0.8°C | -28.4°C | 57 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2018 | -6.9°C | -11.8°C | -16.8°C | 0.1°C | -28.0°C | 93 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2017 🌧️ | -5.4°C | -9.7°C | -14.0°C | 0.5°C | -24.9°C | 119 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2016 | -1.5°C | -5.5°C | -9.5°C | 0.8°C | -19.6°C | 77 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2015 | -1.8°C | -5.4°C | -9.0°C | 0.7°C | -19.0°C | 88 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2014 | -7.6°C | -13.2°C | -18.8°C | 0.1°C | -32.8°C | 71 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2013 | -3.0°C | -7.1°C | -11.2°C | -0.5°C | -17.1°C | 41 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2012 | -3.8°C | -8.6°C | -13.3°C | 0.0°C | -25.4°C | 52 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2011 | -7.2°C | -12.2°C | -17.2°C | 0.0°C | -32.3°C | 53 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2010 | -1.7°C | -5.8°C | -10.0°C | 0.5°C | -18.0°C | 33 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2009 | -3.7°C | -8.5°C | -13.2°C | 0.1°C | -20.3°C | 36 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2008 | -2.5°C | -6.7°C | -10.8°C | 0.2°C | -18.4°C | 44 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2007 | -3.8°C | -8.2°C | -12.6°C | 0.0°C | -23.5°C | 61 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2006 | -4.7°C | -9.6°C | -14.6°C | 0.0°C | -28.8°C | 48 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2005 | -3.3°C | -8.4°C | -13.5°C | 0.2°C | -20.6°C | 14 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2004 | -2.5°C | -7.0°C | -11.5°C | 0.0°C | -21.3°C | 28 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2003 | -3.7°C | -8.3°C | -13.0°C | 0.0°C | -25.1°C | 33 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2002 | -3.9°C | -8.4°C | -12.9°C | 0.1°C | -24.9°C | 52 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2001 | -5.1°C | -10.0°C | -14.8°C | -0.1°C | -24.8°C | 26 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2000 | -3.0°C | -7.9°C | -12.8°C | 0.0°C | -22.5°C | 45 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1999 | -3.1°C | -7.0°C | -10.9°C | 0.0°C | -21.1°C | 106 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1998 | -1.7°C | -6.0°C | -10.3°C | 0.0°C | -17.4°C | 45 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1997 | -3.3°C | -8.1°C | -12.9°C | 0.0°C | -20.5°C | 35 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 2 |
| 1996 | -4.9°C | -10.0°C | -15.1°C | 0.0°C | -31.4°C | 72 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1995 | -4.2°C | -8.2°C | -12.2°C | 1.2°C | -28.5°C | 35 mm | 97% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1994 | -7.3°C | -11.7°C | -16.1°C | 0.0°C | -31.8°C | 73 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1993 | -6.0°C | -11.3°C | -16.5°C | 0.2°C | -28.2°C | 16 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | -1.1°C | -4.7°C | -8.4°C | 0.8°C | -15.0°C | 43 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 🔥 | -0.6°C | -4.1°C | -7.7°C | 0.2°C | -18.8°C | 52 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1990 | -5.7°C | -10.5°C | -15.4°C | 0.1°C | -29.7°C | 62 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1989 | -9.0°C | -14.1°C | -19.3°C | 0.0°C | -40.0°C | 31 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1988 | -3.4°C | -7.7°C | -12.1°C | 0.5°C | -32.0°C | 30 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1987 | -2.5°C | -7.0°C | -11.5°C | 0.6°C | -26.7°C | 32 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1986 | -5.5°C | -9.9°C | -14.4°C | 1.4°C | -27.0°C | 78 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1985 | -6.1°C | -11.0°C | -15.9°C | 0.0°C | -29.3°C | 33 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 2 |
| 1984 | -2.5°C | -6.7°C | -11.0°C | -0.2°C | -18.5°C | 45 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1983 | -2.2°C | -5.8°C | -9.3°C | 0.6°C | -20.6°C | 88 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -5.8°C | -10.0°C | -14.2°C | 0.1°C | -29.4°C | 97 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -4.2°C | -8.5°C | -12.8°C | 0.1°C | -26.2°C | 89 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded February data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in February is around -4.3°C with lows near -13.3°C (mean -8.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
February averages 56 mm of rainfall in Nelson, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 119 mm in 2017.
The hottest February reached 1.4°C in 1986. The coldest dipped to -40°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average February temperatures have fallen by about 1.2°C. Daytime highs moved from -4.2°C to -5.2°C and overnight lows from -12.6°C to -14°C over the same span.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -4.3°C daytime highs and -13.3°C at night.
Not quite — February is the 3rd coolest month in Nelson, averaging -8.8°C.
For February in Nelson, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -4.3°C and lows of -13.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in February averages 99% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in February is 0.5 m/s. The windiest February on record averaged 0.6 m/s (1985).
The wettest February on record was 2017 with 119 mm. On average, February sees 56 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 February, 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 February specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
