October is one of the cooler months of the year in Christchurch, with average highs near 16.4°C and lows around 5.9°C (mean 11.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 78 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Christchurch. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Octobers in Christchurch were 1999 and 2001 — when the month averaged 12.8°C — while the coldest was 2009 at 9.2°C. Typical October days reach 16.4°C with nights near 5.9°C. The long-term October temperature trend is broadly flat.
October is about average for rainfall in Christchurch, averaging 78 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 1989 with 149 mm, while the driest was 2010 at 38 mm.
Relative humidity in Christchurch during October averages 79%. The most humid October was 1986 at 85%, and the least humid was 2002 at 72%.
October receives about 4.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Christchurch. The sunniest Octobers were 2002 and 2010 at 5.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 4.2.
Average wind speed in Christchurch during October is 3 m/s. The windiest Octobers were 1988 and 2007 at 3.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2018 at 2.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.2°C | 11.2°C | 10.8°C | 11.1°C | 11.4°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg High | 16.3°C | 16.4°C | 16.2°C | 16.4°C | 16.7°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Low | 6.0°C | 6.0°C | 5.5°C | 5.8°C | 6.3°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 89 mm | 65 mm | 70 mm | 83 mm | 92 mm | +4 mm |
October temperatures in Christchurch have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -1.5°C (2007) to a record high of 25.4°C (2001).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 78 mm, with a wettest year of 149 mm.
A good time to visit Christchurch
October is a good time to visit Christchurch, with days averaging 16.4°C and nights around 5.9°C (mean 11.1°C, close to Christchurch's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. February and January are marginally more temperate, but October still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16.5°C | 11.3°C | 6.1°C | 22.7°C | 0.3°C | 107 mm | 77% | 3.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2024 | 16.7°C | 11.6°C | 6.5°C | 23.0°C | 2.1°C | 131 mm | 81% | 2.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2023 | 16.8°C | 11.2°C | 5.7°C | 21.4°C | 1.7°C | 68 mm | 79% | 3.3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2022 | 15.7°C | 10.6°C | 5.5°C | 22.5°C | 1.6°C | 72 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2021 | 16.5°C | 11.8°C | 7.2°C | 22.1°C | 3.0°C | 87 mm | 84% | 2.9 m/s | 5 |
| 2020 | 17.7°C | 12.1°C | 6.5°C | 24.5°C | 0.4°C | 88 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2019 | 15.6°C | 10.7°C | 5.8°C | 22.7°C | 0.3°C | 101 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2018 | 17.1°C | 11.6°C | 6.2°C | 24.8°C | 3.1°C | 91 mm | 80% | 2.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2017 | 17.2°C | 12.0°C | 6.8°C | 23.7°C | 3.8°C | 84 mm | 82% | 2.6 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2016 | 16.1°C | 11.1°C | 6.1°C | 22.5°C | 1.8°C | 104 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2015 | 17.2°C | 11.4°C | 5.7°C | 22.4°C | 2.5°C | 58 mm | 77% | 3.2 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2014 | 16.7°C | 10.9°C | 5.1°C | 22.9°C | 1.1°C | 47 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 5 |
| 2013 | 17.3°C | 11.7°C | 6.0°C | 22.3°C | 0.2°C | 98 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2012 | 15.4°C | 10.4°C | 5.5°C | 21.0°C | 1.5°C | 105 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 5 |
| 2011 | 15.5°C | 10.7°C | 5.8°C | 23.3°C | 0.4°C | 101 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2010 | 16.0°C | 10.6°C | 5.2°C | 22.3°C | 2.3°C | 38 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2009 ❄️ | 14.4°C | 9.2°C | 4.0°C | 19.5°C | 0.5°C | 80 mm | 79% | 2.9 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2008 | 16.8°C | 11.1°C | 5.4°C | 22.3°C | 2.2°C | 48 mm | 77% | 2.8 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2007 | 16.0°C | 10.4°C | 4.9°C | 22.6°C | -1.5°C | 98 mm | 73% | 3.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2006 | 15.8°C | 10.7°C | 5.6°C | 21.2°C | 1.9°C | 80 mm | 76% | 3.8 m/s | 5 |
| 2005 | 16.1°C | 11.0°C | 6.0°C | 23.1°C | 2.1°C | 79 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2004 | 15.3°C | 10.5°C | 5.6°C | 22.9°C | 0.7°C | 62 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2003 | 16.0°C | 10.8°C | 5.6°C | 21.7°C | 0.2°C | 62 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2002 | 16.2°C | 10.4°C | 4.6°C | 21.9°C | 0.2°C | 65 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2001 | 18.0°C | 12.8°C | 7.6°C | 25.4°C | 3.6°C | 65 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2000 | 16.9°C | 11.3°C | 5.7°C | 22.3°C | 1.9°C | 60 mm | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1999 🔥 | 18.0°C | 12.8°C | 7.6°C | 24.1°C | 2.2°C | 54 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1998 | 17.1°C | 12.1°C | 7.0°C | 24.4°C | 1.9°C | 78 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1997 | 18.0°C | 11.8°C | 5.6°C | 23.7°C | 0.2°C | 49 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1996 | 16.4°C | 11.5°C | 6.7°C | 21.6°C | 1.4°C | 96 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1995 | 15.1°C | 10.5°C | 5.8°C | 19.2°C | 0.3°C | 64 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1994 | 15.1°C | 9.7°C | 4.2°C | 21.1°C | 0.5°C | 64 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1993 | 17.6°C | 12.1°C | 6.6°C | 22.3°C | 3.8°C | 55 mm | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1992 | 14.3°C | 9.7°C | 5.2°C | 19.0°C | 1.2°C | 77 mm | 83% | 2.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1991 | 16.1°C | 10.6°C | 5.1°C | 21.2°C | 0.9°C | 43 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1990 | 16.6°C | 11.3°C | 5.9°C | 20.9°C | -0.3°C | 72 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 5 |
| 1989 🌧️ | 16.7°C | 11.8°C | 7.0°C | 22.1°C | 2.3°C | 149 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1988 | 17.0°C | 11.8°C | 6.6°C | 22.3°C | 3.5°C | 77 mm | 74% | 3.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1987 | 16.8°C | 11.5°C | 6.2°C | 21.2°C | 1.0°C | 98 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1986 | 15.3°C | 11.0°C | 6.7°C | 21.3°C | 3.1°C | 116 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1985 | 16.2°C | 10.6°C | 4.9°C | 23.4°C | 1.8°C | 41 mm | 76% | 2.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1984 | 16.9°C | 11.4°C | 6.0°C | 23.5°C | 1.6°C | 58 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1983 | 16.2°C | 11.3°C | 6.4°C | 23.4°C | 1.7°C | 60 mm | 82% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 15.0°C | 9.7°C | 4.3°C | 20.9°C | 0.6°C | 103 mm | 76% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.9°C | 11.5°C | 6.0°C | 22.8°C | 3.1°C | 97 mm | 80% | 2.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 16.4°C with lows near 5.9°C (mean 11.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 78 mm of rainfall in Christchurch, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 149 mm in 1989.
The hottest October reached 25.4°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to -1.5°C in 2007.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 16.2°C to 16.4°C and overnight lows from 5.5°C to 6.2°C over the same span.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Christchurch and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 16.4°C daytime highs and 5.9°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 6th coolest month in Christchurch, averaging 11.1°C.
For October in Christchurch, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 16.4°C and lows of 5.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 79% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 3 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 3.9 m/s (1988).
The wettest October on record was 1989 with 149 mm. On average, October sees 78 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 October, 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 October specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
