August is one of the cooler months of the year in Wanaka, with average highs near 5.1°C and lows around -1.3°C (mean 1.9°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 123 mm of rainfall and 91% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Wanaka. Across 45 years of records, the warmest August in Wanaka was 2020 — when the month averaged 4°C — while the coldest was 1992 at -1.1°C. Typical August days reach 5.1°C with nights near -1.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
August is one of the drier months in Wanaka, averaging 123 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 1992 with 332 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 38 mm.
Relative humidity in Wanaka during August averages 91%. The most humid August was 1992 at 94%, and the least humid was 2014 at 87%.
August receives about 2.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Wanaka. The sunniest August was 2011 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2001 at 1.9.
Average wind speed in Wanaka during August is 2.1 m/s. The windiest Augusts were 1982 and 1997 at 2.6 m/s, while the calmest was 1981 at 1.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 1.9°C | 0.9°C | 1.9°C | 2.4°C | 2.8°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 5.1°C | 3.9°C | 5.1°C | 5.7°C | 6.0°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | -1.2°C | -2.2°C | -1.2°C | -1.0°C | -0.4°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 134 mm | 165 mm | 96 mm | 104 mm | 113 mm | -21 mm |
August temperatures in Wanaka have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of -13.4°C (2016) to a record high of 12.8°C (2005).
Rainfall in August is one of the drier months, averaging 123 mm, with a wettest year of 332 mm.
A quieter season to visit Wanaka
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of February and January tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Wanaka. That said, August — with days averaging 5.1°C and nights around -1.3°C (mean 1.9°C) and higher rainfall (123 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 | 5.8°C | 2.4°C | -1.1°C | 8.7°C | -3.7°C | 61 mm | 88% | 1.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2024 | 6.0°C | 2.6°C | -0.8°C | 10.2°C | -6.7°C | 141 mm | 92% | 2.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2023 | 5.0°C | 1.9°C | -1.2°C | 10.0°C | -4.6°C | 79 mm | 90% | 1.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2022 | 6.4°C | 3.3°C | 0.2°C | 10.6°C | -5.7°C | 203 mm | 92% | 2.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2021 | 5.5°C | 2.7°C | -0.2°C | 10.3°C | -4.3°C | 112 mm | 92% | 2.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2020 🔥 | 7.4°C | 4.0°C | 0.7°C | 9.6°C | -3.3°C | 82 mm | 90% | 2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2019 | 4.6°C | 1.3°C | -2.0°C | 11.1°C | -5.0°C | 103 mm | 91% | 2.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 6.3°C | 3.1°C | -0.1°C | 9.1°C | -2.9°C | 69 mm | 91% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2017 | 6.3°C | 3.2°C | 0.2°C | 9.2°C | -5.5°C | 113 mm | 92% | 2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2016 | 5.0°C | 1.2°C | -2.6°C | 10.8°C | -13.4°C | 79 mm | 92% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2015 | 4.5°C | 1.2°C | -2.2°C | 9.2°C | -7.3°C | 144 mm | 93% | 1.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2014 | 5.9°C | 2.3°C | -1.2°C | 11.0°C | -4.7°C | 84 mm | 87% | 2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2013 | 7.1°C | 3.8°C | 0.5°C | 10.8°C | -4.0°C | 132 mm | 91% | 1.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2012 | 6.6°C | 3.4°C | 0.1°C | 10.7°C | -1.9°C | 67 mm | 92% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2011 | 4.9°C | 1.5°C | -1.9°C | 9.5°C | -7.0°C | 90 mm | 91% | 2.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2010 | 5.8°C | 2.6°C | -0.6°C | 10.3°C | -5.7°C | 163 mm | 92% | 1.8 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2009 | 6.4°C | 3.5°C | 0.5°C | 10.3°C | -3.5°C | 237 mm | 93% | 2.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2008 | 3.4°C | 0.2°C | -3.0°C | 10.1°C | -8.6°C | 77 mm | 93% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2007 | 4.9°C | 1.7°C | -1.4°C | 8.2°C | -5.9°C | 54 mm | 90% | 2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | 4.5°C | 1.4°C | -1.7°C | 8.6°C | -5.0°C | 78 mm | 90% | 2.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2005 | 7.0°C | 3.5°C | 0.1°C | 12.8°C | -4.4°C | 99 mm | 91% | 2.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2004 | 3.2°C | 0.3°C | -2.5°C | 6.1°C | -5.9°C | 112 mm | 90% | 2.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2003 | 5.6°C | 2.2°C | -1.2°C | 8.4°C | -3.3°C | 85 mm | 91% | 2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2002 | 5.7°C | 2.2°C | -1.2°C | 9.4°C | -4.3°C | 89 mm | 91% | 2.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2001 | 5.6°C | 2.4°C | -0.8°C | 8.2°C | -4.3°C | 74 mm | 92% | 1.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2000 | 4.7°C | 1.7°C | -1.2°C | 7.9°C | -5.0°C | 57 mm | 91% | 2.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 5.3°C | 2.1°C | -1.1°C | 11.0°C | -3.4°C | 60 mm | 91% | 1.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1998 | 4.6°C | 1.2°C | -2.1°C | 10.0°C | -6.1°C | 76 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1997 | 4.0°C | 1.1°C | -1.9°C | 7.9°C | -5.0°C | 105 mm | 91% | 2.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1996 | 3.9°C | 0.7°C | -2.5°C | 5.7°C | -5.9°C | 97 mm | 91% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1995 | 2.7°C | -0.5°C | -3.7°C | 7.8°C | -8.0°C | 130 mm | 93% | 2.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1994 | 3.9°C | 1.3°C | -1.3°C | 8.2°C | -6.3°C | 288 mm | 93% | 2.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1993 | 3.8°C | 0.6°C | -2.5°C | 7.3°C | -5.4°C | 152 mm | 92% | 1.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1992 ❄️ 🌧️ | 1.7°C | -1.1°C | -3.8°C | 5.4°C | -6.9°C | 332 mm | 94% | 2.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1991 | 4.2°C | 1.4°C | -1.4°C | 9.1°C | -6.9°C | 308 mm | 93% | 2.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1990 | 4.8°C | 1.8°C | -1.3°C | 9.1°C | -4.0°C | 106 mm | 90% | 1.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1989 | 6.0°C | 2.8°C | -0.4°C | 8.3°C | -4.0°C | 78 mm | 89% | 1.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1988 | 5.0°C | 1.8°C | -1.3°C | 8.4°C | -5.1°C | 135 mm | 91% | 2.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1987 | 6.3°C | 3.3°C | 0.3°C | 9.4°C | -2.9°C | 128 mm | 93% | 1.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1986 | 4.1°C | 1.0°C | -2.0°C | 7.9°C | -6.0°C | 65 mm | 90% | 2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1985 | 4.8°C | 1.8°C | -1.2°C | 9.7°C | -3.8°C | 153 mm | 90% | 2.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1984 | 5.3°C | 2.2°C | -0.8°C | 9.3°C | -7.6°C | 170 mm | 92% | 2.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1983 | 5.4°C | 2.1°C | -1.1°C | 8.1°C | -3.9°C | 186 mm | 90% | 2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.2°C | 1.7°C | -1.8°C | 7.9°C | -6.5°C | 250 mm | 92% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 3.9°C | 0.8°C | -2.3°C | 7.0°C | -5.0°C | 38 mm | 88% | 1.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 5.1°C with lows near -1.3°C (mean 1.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 123 mm of rainfall in Wanaka, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 332 mm in 1992.
The hottest August reached 12.8°C in 2005. The coldest dipped to -13.4°C in 2016.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 0.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.9°C to 5.7°C and overnight lows from -1.4°C to -0.6°C over the same span.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Wanaka and one of the drier months, so plan for around 5.1°C daytime highs and -1.3°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 3rd coolest month in Wanaka, averaging 1.9°C.
For August in Wanaka, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 5.1°C and lows of -1.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in August averages 91% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in August is 2.1 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 2.6 m/s (1982).
The wettest August on record was 1992 with 332 mm. On average, August sees 123 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 Wanaka 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.
