August is one of the cooler months of the year in Palmerston North, with average highs near 11.5°C and lows around 5°C (mean 8.3°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 85 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Palmerston North. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Augusts in Palmerston North were 1987 and 2013 — when the month averaged 9.6°C — while the coldest was 1993 at 6.9°C. Typical August days reach 11.5°C with nights near 5°C. The long-term August temperature trend is broadly flat.
August is about average for rainfall in Palmerston North, averaging 85 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 2022 with 166 mm, while the driest was 2005 at 34 mm.
Relative humidity in Palmerston North during August averages 90%. The most humid Augusts were 2010, 2017 and 2022 at 92%, and the least humid was 2000 at 87%.
August receives about 2.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Palmerston North. The sunniest August was 2005 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2010 at 2.2.
Average wind speed in Palmerston North during August is 3.5 m/s. The windiest Augusts were 1992 and 2004 at 4.3 m/s, while the calmest were 1986 and 1987 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 8.2°C | 7.8°C | 8.5°C | 8.5°C | 8.4°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg High | 11.5°C | 11.0°C | 11.7°C | 11.7°C | 11.8°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 4.9°C | 4.5°C | 5.2°C | 5.3°C | 5.1°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 67 mm | 86 mm | 78 mm | 94 mm | 108 mm | +41 mm |
August temperatures in Palmerston North have risen by about 0.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of -1°C (2006) to a record high of 16.9°C (2009).
Rainfall in August is about average for rainfall, averaging 85 mm, with a wettest year of 166 mm.
A quieter season to visit Palmerston North
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of February and January tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Palmerston North. That said, August — with days averaging 11.5°C and nights around 5°C (mean 8.3°C) and higher rainfall (85 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 | 11.3°C | 7.7°C | 4.1°C | 15.1°C | 0.3°C | 74 mm | 90% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2024 | 12.2°C | 9.1°C | 6.1°C | 16.1°C | 0.0°C | 155 mm | 91% | 4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2023 | 10.7°C | 7.3°C | 3.9°C | 13.2°C | -0.1°C | 93 mm | 91% | 3.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2022 🌧️ | 12.3°C | 9.4°C | 6.5°C | 16.6°C | 1.0°C | 166 mm | 92% | 3.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2021 | 11.8°C | 8.3°C | 4.7°C | 15.0°C | 1.7°C | 111 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 12.2°C | 8.8°C | 5.4°C | 15.2°C | 0.7°C | 49 mm | 90% | 3.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2019 | 11.6°C | 8.5°C | 5.4°C | 13.9°C | -0.3°C | 89 mm | 88% | 4.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2018 | 12.3°C | 9.1°C | 5.9°C | 15.1°C | 1.5°C | 109 mm | 91% | 3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2017 | 12.3°C | 9.1°C | 5.9°C | 15.7°C | 1.1°C | 117 mm | 92% | 3.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 11.3°C | 7.8°C | 4.4°C | 14.7°C | 0.1°C | 108 mm | 90% | 3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2015 | 11.0°C | 7.9°C | 4.8°C | 14.4°C | 1.2°C | 90 mm | 91% | 3.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2014 | 10.9°C | 7.5°C | 4.1°C | 15.9°C | 0.0°C | 85 mm | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2013 | 12.8°C | 9.6°C | 6.4°C | 15.3°C | 2.9°C | 65 mm | 90% | 3.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2012 | 12.3°C | 9.1°C | 5.9°C | 14.2°C | 2.2°C | 93 mm | 91% | 2.8 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2011 | 10.8°C | 7.6°C | 4.4°C | 16.0°C | -0.7°C | 76 mm | 91% | 3.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2010 | 11.7°C | 8.8°C | 5.8°C | 14.7°C | 0.9°C | 111 mm | 92% | 3.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2009 | 13.2°C | 9.4°C | 5.6°C | 16.9°C | 1.2°C | 74 mm | 88% | 3.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2008 | 10.9°C | 8.1°C | 5.3°C | 13.9°C | 0.6°C | 122 mm | 90% | 3.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2007 | 11.4°C | 8.6°C | 5.7°C | 13.6°C | 1.1°C | 92 mm | 89% | 4.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | 10.9°C | 7.8°C | 4.7°C | 14.0°C | -1.0°C | 100 mm | 90% | 3.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2005 | 13.1°C | 9.1°C | 5.2°C | 15.4°C | 1.6°C | 34 mm | 89% | 2.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2004 | 9.9°C | 7.1°C | 4.2°C | 13.4°C | 0.0°C | 107 mm | 89% | 4.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2003 | 12.0°C | 8.8°C | 5.6°C | 14.3°C | 2.5°C | 55 mm | 89% | 3.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2002 | 11.4°C | 8.5°C | 5.6°C | 14.3°C | 1.8°C | 75 mm | 89% | 3.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2001 | 12.3°C | 9.0°C | 5.8°C | 15.2°C | 2.6°C | 72 mm | 89% | 3.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2000 | 11.9°C | 8.2°C | 4.6°C | 15.8°C | -0.5°C | 51 mm | 87% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1999 | 11.5°C | 7.7°C | 3.8°C | 14.1°C | 0.5°C | 54 mm | 88% | 3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1998 | 11.4°C | 8.2°C | 4.9°C | 16.0°C | 0.9°C | 42 mm | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1997 | 11.0°C | 7.9°C | 4.7°C | 14.6°C | 0.4°C | 71 mm | 89% | 4.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 10.6°C | 7.3°C | 4.1°C | 14.5°C | -0.1°C | 85 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1995 | 10.2°C | 7.1°C | 3.9°C | 12.4°C | -0.9°C | 102 mm | 90% | 3.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1994 | 11.6°C | 8.2°C | 4.9°C | 14.0°C | 0.1°C | 86 mm | 90% | 3.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1993 ❄️ | 10.6°C | 6.9°C | 3.3°C | 13.9°C | 0.0°C | 50 mm | 89% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1992 | 9.9°C | 7.0°C | 4.0°C | 13.3°C | 0.1°C | 125 mm | 90% | 4.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1991 | 11.8°C | 8.9°C | 5.9°C | 14.3°C | 1.2°C | 110 mm | 90% | 4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1990 | 11.7°C | 8.6°C | 5.4°C | 15.3°C | 1.0°C | 130 mm | 90% | 3.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1989 | 11.8°C | 8.3°C | 4.9°C | 16.6°C | 0.7°C | 51 mm | 89% | 3.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1988 | 11.8°C | 8.4°C | 5.0°C | 14.8°C | 0.6°C | 78 mm | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1987 🔥 | 12.9°C | 9.6°C | 6.2°C | 16.3°C | 1.6°C | 48 mm | 90% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1986 | 10.4°C | 7.2°C | 4.0°C | 14.8°C | -0.5°C | 102 mm | 89% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1985 | 11.4°C | 7.7°C | 4.1°C | 14.3°C | 0.3°C | 76 mm | 89% | 3.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1984 | 12.1°C | 8.7°C | 5.2°C | 15.1°C | -0.8°C | 60 mm | 89% | 3.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1983 | 11.7°C | 8.6°C | 5.5°C | 15.2°C | 1.7°C | 60 mm | 90% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 11.6°C | 8.2°C | 4.7°C | 13.9°C | -0.9°C | 46 mm | 90% | 3.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 10.2°C | 7.5°C | 4.7°C | 12.8°C | 1.0°C | 86 mm | 91% | 3.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 11.5°C with lows near 5°C (mean 8.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 85 mm of rainfall in Palmerston North, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 166 mm in 2022.
The hottest August reached 16.9°C in 2009. The coldest dipped to -1°C in 2006.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 0.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 11.4°C to 11.7°C and overnight lows from 4.8°C to 5.1°C over the same span.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Palmerston North and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 11.5°C daytime highs and 5°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 2nd coolest month in Palmerston North, averaging 8.3°C.
For August in Palmerston North, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 11.5°C and lows of 5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in August averages 90% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in August is 3.5 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 4.3 m/s (1992).
The wettest August on record was 2022 with 166 mm. On average, August sees 85 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 Palmerston North 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.
