August is one of the cooler months of the year in Kaikoura, with average highs near 10.4°C and lows around 6.6°C (mean 8.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 73 mm of rainfall and 82% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Kaikoura. Across 45 years of records, the warmest August in Kaikoura was 2005 — when the month averaged 10°C — while the coldest was 1986 at 6.8°C. Typical August days reach 10.4°C with nights near 6.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
August is about average for rainfall in Kaikoura, averaging 73 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 1992 with 166 mm, while the driest were 1982 and 2014 at 25 mm.
Relative humidity in Kaikoura during August averages 82%. The most humid Augusts were 1989 and 2012 at 86%, and the least humid was 1982 at 77%.
August receives about 2.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Kaikoura. The sunniest August was 1993 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2004, 2008 and 2010, among others at 2.3.
Average wind speed in Kaikoura during August is 3.4 m/s. The windiest August was 1992 at 4.5 m/s, while the calmest was 1987 at 2.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 8.3°C | 8.1°C | 8.6°C | 8.7°C | 8.9°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg High | 10.1°C | 10.0°C | 10.5°C | 10.5°C | 10.8°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Low | 6.5°C | 6.1°C | 6.7°C | 6.9°C | 6.9°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 60 mm | 97 mm | 62 mm | 71 mm | 76 mm | +16 mm |
August temperatures in Kaikoura have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of 1.3°C (2011) to a record high of 17.1°C (2005).
Rainfall in August is about average for rainfall, averaging 73 mm, with a wettest year of 166 mm.
A quieter season to visit Kaikoura
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of February and January tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Kaikoura. That said, August — with days averaging 10.4°C and nights around 6.6°C (mean 8.5°C) and moderate rainfall (73 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 | 10.2°C | 8.2°C | 6.3°C | 15.1°C | 4.9°C | 52 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2024 | 11.3°C | 9.2°C | 7.0°C | 15.0°C | 2.3°C | 88 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2023 | 10.3°C | 8.3°C | 6.3°C | 13.3°C | 3.4°C | 55 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2022 | 11.0°C | 9.3°C | 7.5°C | 15.8°C | 3.9°C | 113 mm | 85% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2021 | 10.7°C | 8.7°C | 6.7°C | 14.5°C | 3.9°C | 113 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2020 | 11.5°C | 9.5°C | 7.5°C | 15.6°C | 3.9°C | 34 mm | 82% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2019 | 10.7°C | 8.5°C | 6.4°C | 13.4°C | 4.1°C | 58 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2018 | 11.0°C | 9.2°C | 7.4°C | 14.7°C | 5.2°C | 77 mm | 85% | 2.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2017 | 11.1°C | 9.2°C | 7.3°C | 14.7°C | 4.5°C | 84 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 10.0°C | 8.1°C | 6.2°C | 13.7°C | 2.6°C | 66 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2015 | 9.9°C | 8.0°C | 6.0°C | 13.3°C | 3.1°C | 64 mm | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2014 | 10.0°C | 8.2°C | 6.5°C | 14.2°C | 3.4°C | 25 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2013 | 11.4°C | 9.9°C | 8.3°C | 14.2°C | 5.7°C | 60 mm | 85% | 3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2012 | 10.7°C | 9.2°C | 7.8°C | 14.4°C | 6.3°C | 137 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2011 | 10.2°C | 8.1°C | 6.0°C | 15.3°C | 1.3°C | 49 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2010 | 10.0°C | 8.3°C | 6.7°C | 13.5°C | 4.1°C | 93 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 | 11.9°C | 9.8°C | 7.8°C | 14.7°C | 5.6°C | 41 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2008 | 9.4°C | 7.6°C | 5.9°C | 13.2°C | 2.6°C | 98 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2007 | 10.6°C | 8.6°C | 6.6°C | 14.0°C | 3.2°C | 35 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2006 | 10.2°C | 8.2°C | 6.2°C | 15.1°C | 3.1°C | 90 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2005 🔥 | 12.1°C | 10.0°C | 7.8°C | 17.1°C | 5.3°C | 48 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2004 | 8.7°C | 7.1°C | 5.4°C | 12.4°C | 1.7°C | 71 mm | 83% | 4.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2003 | 10.3°C | 8.6°C | 6.9°C | 13.6°C | 5.6°C | 59 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2002 | 11.1°C | 9.0°C | 6.9°C | 15.1°C | 3.8°C | 48 mm | 80% | 3.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2001 | 10.8°C | 9.0°C | 7.2°C | 14.0°C | 4.2°C | 61 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2000 | 10.2°C | 8.4°C | 6.7°C | 13.2°C | 4.0°C | 69 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1999 | 10.1°C | 8.1°C | 6.0°C | 14.5°C | 3.8°C | 56 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1998 | 9.9°C | 8.0°C | 6.0°C | 13.6°C | 3.1°C | 96 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1997 | 9.8°C | 8.0°C | 6.2°C | 13.9°C | 3.1°C | 65 mm | 82% | 4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1996 | 9.7°C | 7.6°C | 5.6°C | 13.7°C | 2.3°C | 87 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1995 | 10.0°C | 8.0°C | 6.1°C | 14.4°C | 4.1°C | 160 mm | 81% | 3.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1994 | 10.9°C | 8.6°C | 6.3°C | 14.8°C | 3.1°C | 87 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1993 | 9.4°C | 7.6°C | 5.7°C | 13.0°C | 3.0°C | 37 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1992 🌧️ | 9.1°C | 7.2°C | 5.3°C | 12.5°C | 2.4°C | 166 mm | 82% | 4.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1991 | 10.8°C | 8.8°C | 6.9°C | 12.2°C | 4.6°C | 53 mm | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1990 | 9.9°C | 8.6°C | 7.2°C | 13.2°C | 5.2°C | 161 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1989 | 9.8°C | 8.5°C | 7.1°C | 12.7°C | 5.0°C | 80 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1988 | 10.7°C | 8.4°C | 6.2°C | 14.4°C | 3.1°C | 44 mm | 79% | 3.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 11.7°C | 9.7°C | 7.8°C | 13.8°C | 5.2°C | 57 mm | 83% | 2.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1986 ❄️ | 8.3°C | 6.8°C | 5.4°C | 12.7°C | 2.6°C | 98 mm | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1985 | 10.1°C | 8.3°C | 6.5°C | 13.3°C | 4.2°C | 72 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1984 | 10.3°C | 8.6°C | 6.8°C | 13.9°C | 3.8°C | 35 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1983 | 10.5°C | 8.4°C | 6.3°C | 14.2°C | 4.0°C | 41 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 11.1°C | 8.8°C | 6.4°C | 13.7°C | 4.0°C | 25 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 8.5°C | 7.2°C | 5.8°C | 11.8°C | 3.8°C | 88 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 10.4°C with lows near 6.6°C (mean 8.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 73 mm of rainfall in Kaikoura, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 166 mm in 1992.
The hottest August reached 17.1°C in 2005. The coldest dipped to 1.3°C in 2011.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 10.1°C to 10.7°C and overnight lows from 6.4°C to 6.8°C over the same span.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Kaikoura and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 10.4°C daytime highs and 6.6°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 2nd coolest month in Kaikoura, averaging 8.5°C.
For August in Kaikoura, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 10.4°C and lows of 6.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in August averages 82% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in August is 3.4 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 4.5 m/s (1992).
The wettest August on record was 1992 with 166 mm. On average, August sees 73 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 Kaikoura behaves each August, 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 August specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
