October is one of the cooler months of the year in Kaikoura, with average highs near 13.7°C and lows around 8.6°C (mean 11.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 68 mm of rainfall and 77% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Kaikoura. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Kaikoura was 1988 — when the month averaged 12.1°C — while the coldest was 2009 at 9.4°C. Typical October days reach 13.7°C with nights near 8.6°C. The long-term October temperature trend is broadly flat.
October is about average for rainfall in Kaikoura, averaging 68 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 1998 with 123 mm, while the driest was 2014 at 26 mm.
Relative humidity in Kaikoura during October averages 77%. The most humid October was 1986 at 84%, and the least humid was 1988 at 71%.
October receives about 5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Kaikoura. The sunniest Octobers were 2002 and 2010 at 5.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 4.1.
Average wind speed in Kaikoura during October is 3.1 m/s. The windiest October was 2006 at 4.1 m/s, while the calmest was 2018 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.1°C | 11.2°C | 10.8°C | 11.3°C | 11.5°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 13.5°C | 13.7°C | 13.3°C | 13.9°C | 14.1°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | 8.7°C | 8.6°C | 8.3°C | 8.6°C | 9.0°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 73 mm | 69 mm | 71 mm | 66 mm | 61 mm | -11 mm |
October temperatures in Kaikoura have risen by about 0.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of 3.3°C (2022) to a record high of 20.8°C (2025).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 68 mm, with a wettest year of 123 mm.
A good time to visit Kaikoura
October is a good time to visit Kaikoura, with days averaging 13.7°C and nights around 8.6°C (mean 11.1°C, cooler than Kaikoura'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 | 14.6°C | 11.9°C | 9.2°C | 20.8°C | 5.7°C | 61 mm | 74% | 3.5 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2024 | 14.3°C | 11.9°C | 9.5°C | 19.7°C | 5.8°C | 100 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2023 | 14.2°C | 11.4°C | 8.5°C | 18.9°C | 5.1°C | 43 mm | 77% | 3.2 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2022 | 13.0°C | 10.5°C | 8.1°C | 19.0°C | 3.3°C | 44 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 5 |
| 2021 | 13.9°C | 11.6°C | 9.4°C | 18.6°C | 5.7°C | 58 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 5 |
| 2020 | 14.7°C | 11.9°C | 9.0°C | 19.9°C | 5.3°C | 62 mm | 77% | 2.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2019 | 13.5°C | 10.9°C | 8.3°C | 18.6°C | 5.4°C | 70 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2018 | 14.3°C | 11.7°C | 9.1°C | 20.2°C | 4.9°C | 70 mm | 79% | 2.5 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2017 | 14.3°C | 11.9°C | 9.5°C | 18.6°C | 7.5°C | 93 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2016 | 14.1°C | 11.4°C | 8.7°C | 18.9°C | 6.1°C | 98 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2015 | 14.5°C | 11.6°C | 8.7°C | 20.0°C | 6.0°C | 34 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2014 | 14.1°C | 11.2°C | 8.3°C | 18.9°C | 5.8°C | 26 mm | 75% | 3.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2013 | 14.8°C | 11.9°C | 8.9°C | 18.2°C | 4.5°C | 88 mm | 75% | 3.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2012 | 13.5°C | 10.9°C | 8.2°C | 16.7°C | 5.0°C | 42 mm | 74% | 3.2 m/s | 5 |
| 2011 | 13.0°C | 10.7°C | 8.4°C | 19.9°C | 5.7°C | 100 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2010 | 13.1°C | 10.7°C | 8.2°C | 19.5°C | 5.0°C | 35 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2009 ❄️ | 11.7°C | 9.4°C | 7.0°C | 15.5°C | 4.8°C | 97 mm | 78% | 3.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2008 | 13.9°C | 11.1°C | 8.3°C | 19.0°C | 5.2°C | 34 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2007 | 13.6°C | 10.7°C | 7.9°C | 19.1°C | 4.7°C | 81 mm | 71% | 4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2006 | 13.1°C | 10.6°C | 8.0°C | 18.0°C | 5.5°C | 106 mm | 76% | 4.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2005 | 12.9°C | 10.9°C | 8.8°C | 19.2°C | 5.8°C | 81 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 5 |
| 2004 | 13.0°C | 10.8°C | 8.5°C | 18.6°C | 4.2°C | 68 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2003 | 13.4°C | 11.0°C | 8.6°C | 19.3°C | 4.7°C | 70 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2002 | 12.9°C | 10.3°C | 7.7°C | 17.4°C | 4.7°C | 38 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2001 | 14.3°C | 12.0°C | 9.6°C | 18.8°C | 6.4°C | 95 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2000 | 13.9°C | 11.3°C | 8.6°C | 19.2°C | 5.3°C | 41 mm | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1999 | 14.6°C | 12.0°C | 9.3°C | 20.5°C | 5.1°C | 87 mm | 79% | 2.9 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1998 🌧️ | 14.2°C | 11.8°C | 9.3°C | 18.0°C | 6.9°C | 123 mm | 76% | 3.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1997 | 14.5°C | 11.6°C | 8.7°C | 17.6°C | 4.8°C | 37 mm | 75% | 2.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1996 | 14.1°C | 11.6°C | 9.0°C | 18.1°C | 5.9°C | 62 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1995 | 13.0°C | 10.7°C | 8.3°C | 16.9°C | 4.6°C | 92 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1994 | 12.5°C | 10.0°C | 7.6°C | 18.3°C | 4.4°C | 81 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1993 | 14.4°C | 11.6°C | 8.9°C | 17.1°C | 6.6°C | 37 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1992 | 12.1°C | 10.1°C | 8.0°C | 16.5°C | 4.1°C | 89 mm | 82% | 3.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1991 | 13.4°C | 10.7°C | 8.0°C | 17.6°C | 5.1°C | 32 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1990 | 14.1°C | 11.6°C | 9.1°C | 17.4°C | 4.8°C | 48 mm | 78% | 2.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1989 | 14.4°C | 11.9°C | 9.5°C | 18.6°C | 6.0°C | 120 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 5 |
| 1988 🔥 | 14.8°C | 12.1°C | 9.3°C | 18.1°C | 6.5°C | 60 mm | 71% | 3.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1987 | 13.9°C | 11.5°C | 9.2°C | 17.2°C | 4.3°C | 77 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1986 | 12.8°C | 10.9°C | 9.0°C | 16.5°C | 6.4°C | 108 mm | 84% | 2.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1985 | 12.9°C | 10.3°C | 7.7°C | 19.8°C | 4.9°C | 52 mm | 77% | 3.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1984 | 13.8°C | 11.3°C | 8.9°C | 20.1°C | 5.7°C | 36 mm | 74% | 3.3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1983 | 13.0°C | 10.8°C | 8.6°C | 18.4°C | 5.4°C | 56 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 12.2°C | 9.7°C | 7.2°C | 17.5°C | 4.8°C | 57 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 14.1°C | 11.5°C | 8.9°C | 18.8°C | 4.7°C | 90 mm | 77% | 3.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 13.7°C with lows near 8.6°C (mean 11.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 68 mm of rainfall in Kaikoura, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 123 mm in 1998.
The hottest October reached 20.8°C in 2025. The coldest dipped to 3.3°C in 2022.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 0.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 13.2°C to 14°C and overnight lows from 8.3°C to 8.9°C over the same span.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Kaikoura and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 13.7°C daytime highs and 8.6°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 6th coolest month in Kaikoura, averaging 11.1°C.
For October in Kaikoura, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 13.7°C and lows of 8.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 77% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 3.1 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 4.1 m/s (2006).
The wettest October on record was 1998 with 123 mm. On average, October sees 68 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 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.
