August is one of the warmer months of the year in Canterbury, with average highs near 19.8°C and lows around 15.5°C (mean 17.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 53 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the warmer months of the year in Canterbury. Across 45 years of records, the warmest August in Canterbury was 2022 — when the month averaged 20.2°C — while the coldest was 1986 at 15.3°C. Typical August days reach 19.8°C with nights near 15.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
August is about average for rainfall in Canterbury, averaging 53 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 2006 with 116 mm, while the driest was 1991 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in Canterbury during August averages 81%. The most humid August was 2004 at 85%, and the least humid was 2025 at 78%.
August receives about 4.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Canterbury. The sunniest August was 2022 at 5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1986 and 1987 at 3.6.
Average wind speed in Canterbury during August is 4.4 m/s. The windiest Augusts were 1985, 1992 and 2008 at 5.6 m/s, while the calmest was 2002 at 3.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 16.8°C | 17.7°C | 17.7°C | 17.7°C | 18.8°C | +2°C |
| Avg High | 18.9°C | 19.9°C | 19.8°C | 19.8°C | 20.9°C | +2°C |
| Avg Low | 14.6°C | 15.5°C | 15.7°C | 15.6°C | 16.7°C | +2.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 42 mm | 49 mm | 59 mm | 65 mm | 46 mm | +4 mm |
August temperatures in Canterbury have risen by about 1.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of 10.8°C (1986) to a record high of 26.6°C (1990).
Rainfall in August is about average for rainfall, averaging 53 mm, with a wettest year of 116 mm.
One of the best times to visit Canterbury
August is one of the best times to visit Canterbury. Expect days averaging 19.8°C and nights around 15.5°C (mean 17.7°C) — warmer than Canterbury's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (53 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20.8°C | 18.7°C | 16.6°C | 23.3°C | 14.8°C | 16 mm | 78% | 4.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2024 | 21.4°C | 19.0°C | 16.7°C | 24.8°C | 13.9°C | 48 mm | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2023 | 20.2°C | 18.0°C | 15.8°C | 22.2°C | 13.3°C | 77 mm | 82% | 4.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2022 🔥 | 22.2°C | 20.2°C | 18.2°C | 25.4°C | 15.6°C | 24 mm | 78% | 4 m/s | 5 |
| 2021 | 19.3°C | 17.4°C | 15.6°C | 20.9°C | 14.4°C | 49 mm | 83% | 5 m/s | 4 |
| 2020 | 21.3°C | 19.2°C | 17.2°C | 26.6°C | 13.5°C | 60 mm | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2019 | 20.7°C | 18.4°C | 16.2°C | 24.3°C | 13.5°C | 38 mm | 79% | 4.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2018 | 20.6°C | 18.4°C | 16.2°C | 24.5°C | 12.1°C | 71 mm | 79% | 4.1 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2017 | 19.8°C | 17.6°C | 15.4°C | 23.9°C | 13.3°C | 81 mm | 80% | 4.2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2016 | 20.6°C | 18.4°C | 16.3°C | 25.3°C | 12.7°C | 28 mm | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2015 | 19.5°C | 17.5°C | 15.5°C | 23.2°C | 13.3°C | 97 mm | 82% | 4.5 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2014 | 19.0°C | 16.9°C | 14.9°C | 21.7°C | 11.9°C | 95 mm | 78% | 5.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2013 | 19.9°C | 17.8°C | 15.7°C | 24.3°C | 13.5°C | 47 mm | 82% | 4.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2012 | 19.8°C | 17.8°C | 15.8°C | 24.5°C | 11.9°C | 35 mm | 83% | 4.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2011 | 19.0°C | 16.9°C | 14.8°C | 22.4°C | 12.3°C | 65 mm | 81% | 4.5 m/s | 4 |
| 2010 | 18.9°C | 17.0°C | 15.0°C | 21.4°C | 11.7°C | 95 mm | 81% | 5.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2009 | 20.7°C | 18.4°C | 16.1°C | 23.2°C | 13.5°C | 14 mm | 79% | 4.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2008 | 19.6°C | 17.6°C | 15.6°C | 21.4°C | 12.9°C | 62 mm | 83% | 5.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2007 | 19.3°C | 17.2°C | 15.2°C | 22.6°C | 13.4°C | 44 mm | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2006 🌧️ | 19.3°C | 17.3°C | 15.3°C | 21.4°C | 13.5°C | 116 mm | 81% | 4.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2005 | 19.1°C | 16.9°C | 14.7°C | 23.8°C | 12.7°C | 63 mm | 82% | 4.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2004 | 19.8°C | 18.0°C | 16.1°C | 23.1°C | 13.1°C | 104 mm | 85% | 4.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2003 | 20.8°C | 18.8°C | 16.7°C | 25.9°C | 13.0°C | 28 mm | 81% | 3.4 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2002 | 19.9°C | 17.9°C | 16.0°C | 23.2°C | 14.7°C | 49 mm | 85% | 3.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2001 | 19.8°C | 17.8°C | 15.8°C | 23.7°C | 12.7°C | 72 mm | 84% | 4.3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2000 | 19.4°C | 17.4°C | 15.4°C | 21.0°C | 13.8°C | 35 mm | 84% | 3.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1999 | 19.4°C | 17.5°C | 15.5°C | 23.5°C | 12.9°C | 92 mm | 81% | 4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1998 | 19.7°C | 17.2°C | 14.7°C | 25.6°C | 11.7°C | 22 mm | 79% | 4.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1997 | 21.3°C | 19.2°C | 17.2°C | 24.9°C | 15.0°C | 38 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1996 | 19.1°C | 17.0°C | 14.8°C | 21.8°C | 12.7°C | 97 mm | 82% | 4.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1995 | 20.7°C | 18.6°C | 16.5°C | 23.4°C | 12.8°C | 13 mm | 82% | 4.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1994 | 19.4°C | 17.5°C | 15.5°C | 22.2°C | 13.1°C | 62 mm | 80% | 4.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1993 | 18.4°C | 16.1°C | 13.8°C | 21.7°C | 11.7°C | 41 mm | 79% | 4.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1992 | 19.2°C | 17.1°C | 15.1°C | 22.5°C | 12.4°C | 81 mm | 81% | 5.6 m/s | 4 |
| 1991 | 20.2°C | 17.8°C | 15.4°C | 22.9°C | 13.2°C | 12 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1990 | 21.2°C | 18.6°C | 16.1°C | 26.6°C | 13.4°C | 29 mm | 78% | 3.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1989 | 20.4°C | 17.9°C | 15.4°C | 23.1°C | 12.7°C | 27 mm | 78% | 4.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1988 | 18.4°C | 16.2°C | 14.0°C | 21.4°C | 12.1°C | 34 mm | 83% | 4.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1987 | 18.6°C | 16.5°C | 14.4°C | 23.3°C | 11.9°C | 77 mm | 82% | 3.8 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1986 ❄️ | 17.4°C | 15.3°C | 13.3°C | 19.6°C | 10.8°C | 61 mm | 79% | 4.8 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1985 | 17.9°C | 15.7°C | 13.5°C | 20.7°C | 11.6°C | 49 mm | 83% | 5.6 m/s | 4 |
| 1984 | 19.5°C | 17.4°C | 15.3°C | 21.8°C | 13.1°C | 31 mm | 84% | 3.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1983 | 19.4°C | 17.5°C | 15.7°C | 21.6°C | 12.9°C | 35 mm | 83% | 4.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 19.3°C | 17.2°C | 15.0°C | 21.8°C | 12.2°C | 46 mm | 81% | 4.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 19.2°C | 17.2°C | 15.1°C | 22.8°C | 12.6°C | 19 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 19.8°C with lows near 15.5°C (mean 17.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 53 mm of rainfall in Canterbury, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 116 mm in 2006.
The hottest August reached 26.6°C in 1990. The coldest dipped to 10.8°C in 1986.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 1.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 19.1°C to 20.8°C and overnight lows from 14.9°C to 16.6°C over the same span.
August is one of the warmer months of the year in Canterbury and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 19.8°C daytime highs and 15.5°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 12th coolest month in Canterbury, averaging 17.7°C.
For August in Canterbury, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 19.8°C and lows of 15.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in August averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in August is 4.4 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 5.6 m/s (1985).
The wettest August on record was 2006 with 116 mm. On average, August sees 53 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 Canterbury 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.
