March is one of the warmer months of the year in Christchurch, with average highs near 21.2°C and lows around 9.9°C (mean 15.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 67 mm of rainfall and 73% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Christchurch. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Christchurch was 1999 — when the month averaged 17.8°C — while the coldest was 2006 at 13.5°C. Typical March days reach 21.2°C with nights near 9.9°C. The long-term March temperature trend is broadly flat.
March is about average for rainfall in Christchurch, averaging 67 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 2023 with 133 mm, while the driest was 2001 at 22 mm.
Relative humidity in Christchurch during March averages 73%. The most humid March was 2022 at 82%, and the least humid was 1983 at 63%.
March receives about 4.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Christchurch. The sunniest March was 2007 at 4.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1984, 2006 and 2017 at 3.9.
Average wind speed in Christchurch during March is 2.8 m/s. The windiest Marchs were 1998 and 2006 at 3.3 m/s, while the calmest was 2003 at 2.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 15.6°C | 15.2°C | 15.6°C | 15.8°C | 15.4°C | -0.2°C |
| Avg High | 21.2°C | 20.9°C | 21.3°C | 21.4°C | 20.9°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 10.1°C | 9.6°C | 9.9°C | 10.2°C | 9.9°C | -0.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 78 mm | 71 mm | 45 mm | 74 mm | 69 mm | -9 mm |
March temperatures in Christchurch have fallen by about 0.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of 2°C (1983) to a record high of 32.6°C (2008).
Rainfall in March is about average for rainfall, averaging 67 mm, with a wettest year of 133 mm.
One of the best times to visit Christchurch
March is one of the best times to visit Christchurch. Expect days averaging 21.2°C and nights around 9.9°C (mean 15.6°C) — warmer than Christchurch's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (67 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22.0°C | 16.4°C | 10.7°C | 32.4°C | 6.3°C | 73 mm | 75% | 2.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2024 | 20.6°C | 14.6°C | 8.6°C | 30.3°C | 4.4°C | 41 mm | 69% | 2.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 20.1°C | 15.0°C | 9.9°C | 29.0°C | 6.4°C | 133 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2022 | 20.4°C | 15.5°C | 10.5°C | 26.8°C | 6.8°C | 34 mm | 82% | 2.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2021 | 21.8°C | 16.0°C | 10.3°C | 28.4°C | 6.8°C | 60 mm | 73% | 2.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2020 | 20.3°C | 14.7°C | 9.2°C | 29.5°C | 4.4°C | 73 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2019 | 23.5°C | 17.7°C | 11.8°C | 31.2°C | 5.9°C | 85 mm | 74% | 2.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2018 | 21.4°C | 16.2°C | 11.0°C | 27.0°C | 6.8°C | 68 mm | 78% | 2.5 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2017 | 20.3°C | 15.1°C | 10.0°C | 29.9°C | 6.1°C | 101 mm | 78% | 2.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2016 | 22.3°C | 16.4°C | 10.5°C | 29.3°C | 5.1°C | 74 mm | 72% | 2.7 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2015 | 21.3°C | 16.0°C | 10.7°C | 29.5°C | 5.5°C | 94 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2014 | 19.8°C | 14.6°C | 9.4°C | 27.2°C | 5.4°C | 101 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2013 | 22.7°C | 16.8°C | 10.9°C | 29.3°C | 6.7°C | 35 mm | 71% | 2.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2012 | 19.7°C | 14.1°C | 8.5°C | 25.3°C | 5.2°C | 69 mm | 73% | 2.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2011 | 21.1°C | 15.2°C | 9.3°C | 27.9°C | 4.7°C | 72 mm | 73% | 2.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2010 | 22.3°C | 16.0°C | 9.7°C | 30.5°C | 4.9°C | 43 mm | 66% | 3.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2009 | 20.8°C | 15.1°C | 9.5°C | 26.8°C | 6.1°C | 32 mm | 71% | 3.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2008 | 22.2°C | 16.4°C | 10.6°C | 32.6°C | 6.8°C | 42 mm | 74% | 2.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2007 | 23.4°C | 17.1°C | 10.7°C | 29.8°C | 6.0°C | 52 mm | 70% | 2.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2006 ❄️ | 18.5°C | 13.5°C | 8.4°C | 26.8°C | 4.5°C | 47 mm | 72% | 3.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2005 | 20.4°C | 15.2°C | 10.1°C | 29.2°C | 5.9°C | 59 mm | 76% | 2.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2004 | 20.3°C | 14.8°C | 9.2°C | 27.4°C | 4.5°C | 60 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2003 | 22.6°C | 16.8°C | 11.0°C | 29.3°C | 6.9°C | 51 mm | 73% | 2.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2002 | 21.4°C | 15.7°C | 10.0°C | 26.4°C | 6.5°C | 37 mm | 71% | 3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2001 | 21.7°C | 16.0°C | 10.4°C | 29.3°C | 4.8°C | 22 mm | 68% | 2.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2000 | 21.8°C | 15.6°C | 9.3°C | 30.6°C | 5.6°C | 54 mm | 71% | 2.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1999 🔥 | 23.8°C | 17.8°C | 11.8°C | 30.4°C | 7.4°C | 65 mm | 70% | 2.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1998 | 23.6°C | 17.4°C | 11.2°C | 31.4°C | 6.9°C | 65 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1997 | 19.4°C | 14.0°C | 8.7°C | 27.0°C | 5.3°C | 63 mm | 75% | 2.6 m/s | 4 |
| 1996 | 19.3°C | 14.1°C | 9.0°C | 24.2°C | 6.3°C | 87 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 4 |
| 1995 | 21.3°C | 15.4°C | 9.4°C | 28.6°C | 6.4°C | 102 mm | 73% | 3.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1994 | 19.0°C | 14.2°C | 9.3°C | 25.3°C | 3.2°C | 118 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 4 |
| 1993 | 18.9°C | 13.7°C | 8.5°C | 25.0°C | 5.6°C | 74 mm | 73% | 3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1992 | 20.3°C | 14.1°C | 7.9°C | 31.9°C | 3.1°C | 39 mm | 64% | 3.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1991 | 20.4°C | 15.1°C | 9.8°C | 26.3°C | 6.1°C | 38 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1990 | 22.6°C | 16.6°C | 10.6°C | 29.4°C | 3.8°C | 59 mm | 68% | 2.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1989 | 22.1°C | 16.1°C | 10.1°C | 29.6°C | 6.4°C | 76 mm | 67% | 3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1988 | 20.6°C | 14.8°C | 9.0°C | 31.1°C | 3.9°C | 51 mm | 68% | 3.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1987 | 18.2°C | 13.6°C | 9.1°C | 24.1°C | 5.6°C | 92 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1986 | 20.5°C | 15.3°C | 10.1°C | 26.5°C | 5.8°C | 124 mm | 77% | 2.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1985 | 21.1°C | 15.5°C | 9.9°C | 30.1°C | 5.3°C | 47 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1984 | 21.3°C | 16.2°C | 11.2°C | 27.6°C | 3.3°C | 130 mm | 79% | 2.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1983 | 22.9°C | 16.2°C | 9.6°C | 29.6°C | 2.0°C | 60 mm | 63% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 22.1°C | 16.6°C | 11.0°C | 28.0°C | 6.6°C | 24 mm | 70% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 21.8°C | 16.4°C | 11.0°C | 28.2°C | 6.2°C | 100 mm | 74% | 2.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 21.2°C with lows near 9.9°C (mean 15.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 67 mm of rainfall in Christchurch, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 133 mm in 2023.
The hottest March reached 32.6°C in 2008. The coldest dipped to 2°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have fallen by about 0.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 21.8°C to 21°C and overnight lows from 10.5°C to 10°C over the same span.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Christchurch and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 21.2°C daytime highs and 9.9°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 9th coolest month in Christchurch, averaging 15.6°C.
For March in Christchurch, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 21.2°C and lows of 9.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 73% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in March is 2.8 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 3.3 m/s (1998).
The wettest March on record was 2023 with 133 mm. On average, March sees 67 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 Christchurch behaves each March, 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 March specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
