August is one of the warmer months of the year in Nelson, with average highs near 17.9°C and lows around 11°C (mean 14.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 99 mm of rainfall and 86% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the warmer months of the year in Nelson. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Augusts in Nelson were 1995, 1997 and 2022 — when the month averaged 16.3°C — while the coldest was 1986 at 11.6°C. Typical August days reach 17.9°C with nights near 11°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
August is about average for rainfall in Nelson, averaging 99 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 2004 with 230 mm, while the driest was 1995 at 20 mm.
Relative humidity in Nelson during August averages 86%. The most humid August was 2008 at 89%, and the least humid was 2022 at 82%.
August receives about 4.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Nelson. The sunniest August was 1995 at 5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2008 at 3.4.
Average wind speed in Nelson during August is 3.2 m/s. The windiest August was 1985 at 4.5 m/s, while the calmest were 1983, 1984 and 2002 at 2.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 13.8°C | 14.4°C | 14.8°C | 14.2°C | 15.4°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg High | 17.3°C | 18.1°C | 18.2°C | 17.6°C | 19.0°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg Low | 10.4°C | 10.8°C | 11.4°C | 10.9°C | 11.8°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 99 mm | 84 mm | 110 mm | 114 mm | 84 mm | -14 mm |
August temperatures in Nelson have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of 4.8°C (1993) to a record high of 27°C (1990).
Rainfall in August is about average for rainfall, averaging 99 mm, with a wettest year of 230 mm.
One of the best times to visit Nelson
August is one of the best times to visit Nelson. Expect days averaging 17.9°C and nights around 11°C (mean 14.5°C) — warmer than Nelson's yearly average — with higher rainfall (99 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 | 19.5°C | 15.8°C | 12.0°C | 25.8°C | 7.9°C | 47 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2024 | 18.2°C | 15.0°C | 11.7°C | 22.9°C | 7.4°C | 86 mm | 86% | 3.9 m/s | 4 |
| 2023 | 18.4°C | 15.0°C | 11.5°C | 24.4°C | 8.8°C | 106 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2022 | 20.4°C | 16.3°C | 12.3°C | 26.9°C | 8.3°C | 52 mm | 82% | 2.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2021 | 18.2°C | 14.8°C | 11.4°C | 21.3°C | 8.8°C | 72 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2020 | 19.2°C | 15.6°C | 12.0°C | 26.2°C | 5.1°C | 143 mm | 86% | 3.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2019 | 18.7°C | 15.4°C | 12.2°C | 25.5°C | 9.0°C | 147 mm | 87% | 3.7 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2018 | 18.0°C | 14.7°C | 11.5°C | 22.2°C | 6.4°C | 92 mm | 87% | 3.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2017 | 16.8°C | 13.7°C | 10.6°C | 21.0°C | 7.4°C | 103 mm | 87% | 3.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2016 | 18.1°C | 14.8°C | 11.4°C | 22.2°C | 7.6°C | 119 mm | 87% | 3.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2015 | 17.9°C | 14.3°C | 10.6°C | 22.0°C | 7.5°C | 110 mm | 85% | 3.2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2014 | 16.1°C | 13.0°C | 9.9°C | 19.6°C | 5.9°C | 127 mm | 85% | 3.8 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2013 | 18.3°C | 14.8°C | 11.3°C | 24.4°C | 8.4°C | 103 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2012 | 17.9°C | 14.5°C | 11.1°C | 21.4°C | 6.3°C | 141 mm | 88% | 2.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2011 | 16.7°C | 13.5°C | 10.2°C | 21.0°C | 7.5°C | 116 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2010 | 17.0°C | 13.3°C | 9.7°C | 21.5°C | 5.5°C | 81 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2009 | 17.9°C | 14.8°C | 11.6°C | 21.6°C | 9.1°C | 123 mm | 87% | 3.7 m/s | 4 |
| 2008 | 17.5°C | 14.7°C | 11.9°C | 21.3°C | 8.3°C | 148 mm | 89% | 3.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2007 | 17.3°C | 13.8°C | 10.3°C | 22.4°C | 7.4°C | 75 mm | 87% | 3.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2006 | 17.4°C | 14.3°C | 11.2°C | 21.8°C | 9.4°C | 100 mm | 87% | 3.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2005 | 18.0°C | 14.3°C | 10.5°C | 23.1°C | 7.8°C | 78 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 19.0°C | 15.7°C | 12.3°C | 24.0°C | 8.0°C | 230 mm | 88% | 2.9 m/s | 4 |
| 2003 | 19.6°C | 15.8°C | 12.0°C | 26.7°C | 6.9°C | 37 mm | 85% | 2.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2002 | 18.7°C | 15.0°C | 11.4°C | 23.7°C | 8.2°C | 113 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2001 | 18.2°C | 14.8°C | 11.4°C | 22.1°C | 7.7°C | 103 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2000 | 17.9°C | 14.4°C | 10.9°C | 22.3°C | 7.3°C | 94 mm | 87% | 2.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1999 | 17.5°C | 14.1°C | 10.6°C | 24.7°C | 4.8°C | 104 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1998 | 17.1°C | 13.8°C | 10.6°C | 22.2°C | 5.3°C | 82 mm | 88% | 3.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1997 | 20.4°C | 16.3°C | 12.2°C | 24.8°C | 9.0°C | 82 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1996 | 18.2°C | 14.5°C | 10.9°C | 23.4°C | 7.4°C | 92 mm | 85% | 2.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1995 🔥 | 20.8°C | 16.3°C | 11.8°C | 25.9°C | 6.7°C | 20 mm | 82% | 2.7 m/s | 5 |
| 1994 | 16.9°C | 13.5°C | 10.2°C | 22.2°C | 6.2°C | 114 mm | 85% | 3.3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1993 | 16.1°C | 12.3°C | 8.6°C | 20.2°C | 4.8°C | 71 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1992 | 16.3°C | 13.2°C | 10.0°C | 18.8°C | 6.2°C | 147 mm | 85% | 4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1991 | 18.6°C | 14.7°C | 10.9°C | 22.4°C | 7.8°C | 55 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1990 | 18.8°C | 15.4°C | 12.0°C | 27.0°C | 7.2°C | 77 mm | 86% | 3.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1989 | 17.5°C | 14.1°C | 10.6°C | 21.0°C | 6.1°C | 104 mm | 85% | 3.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1988 | 16.4°C | 13.3°C | 10.3°C | 23.8°C | 8.2°C | 111 mm | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1987 | 16.8°C | 13.6°C | 10.5°C | 22.6°C | 6.5°C | 105 mm | 87% | 3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1986 ❄️ | 14.9°C | 11.6°C | 8.4°C | 18.3°C | 5.5°C | 124 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1985 | 15.5°C | 12.8°C | 10.0°C | 18.8°C | 7.0°C | 156 mm | 87% | 4.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1984 | 19.9°C | 15.8°C | 11.6°C | 23.9°C | 8.0°C | 57 mm | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1983 | 19.4°C | 15.1°C | 10.8°C | 23.2°C | 5.8°C | 52 mm | 84% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 17.1°C | 13.9°C | 10.7°C | 24.7°C | 6.8°C | 116 mm | 85% | 3.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 18.1°C | 14.4°C | 10.7°C | 21.1°C | 7.7°C | 62 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 17.9°C with lows near 11°C (mean 14.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 99 mm of rainfall in Nelson, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 230 mm in 2004.
The hottest August reached 27°C in 1990. The coldest dipped to 4.8°C in 1993.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 1°C. Daytime highs moved from 18°C to 18.9°C and overnight lows from 10.8°C to 11.8°C over the same span.
August is one of the warmer months of the year in Nelson and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 17.9°C daytime highs and 11°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 11th coolest month in Nelson, averaging 14.5°C.
For August in Nelson, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 17.9°C and lows of 11°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in August averages 86% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in August is 3.2 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 4.5 m/s (1985).
The wettest August on record was 2004 with 230 mm. On average, August sees 99 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 Nelson 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.
