Timaru weather in December
In December, Timaru sees average daytime highs of 16°C and overnight lows near 11°C, with 80 mm of rain across 13.8 wet days and about 15.3 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 16°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 15 h 06 min at the start of December to 15 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Timaru's 12th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Timaru's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 16°
- 4th warmest
- Overnight low
- 11°
- 10th coldest
- Rainfall
- 80 mm
- 13.8 wet days
- Daylight
- 15 h 18 min
- 5:51 AM – 9:11 PM
- Cloud cover
- 69%
- 12th clearest
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- 2nd windiest
- Solar energy
- 6.62 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 4.6
- out of 10
Timaru is town in New Zealand's South Island.
- Air quality
- Moderate
- PM2.5 15 µg/m³ · 2012
- Density
- 862/km²
- people per km²
- Founded
- 1868
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in December
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 16°C through the month.
A typical December day in Timaru reaches about 16°C in the afternoon and slips back to 11°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 13°C and 20°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| Avg low (°C) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | 10 |
| 2 | 16 | 10 |
| 3 | 16 | 10 |
| 4 | 16 | 10 |
| 5 | 16 | 11 |
| 6 | 16 | 11 |
| 7 | 16 | 11 |
| 8 | 16 | 11 |
| 9 | 16 | 11 |
| 10 | 16 | 11 |
| 11 | 16 | 11 |
| 12 | 16 | 11 |
| 13 | 16 | 11 |
| 14 | 16 | 11 |
| 15 | 16 | 11 |
| 16 | 16 | 11 |
| 17 | 16 | 11 |
| 18 | 16 | 11 |
| 19 | 16 | 11 |
| 20 | 17 | 11 |
| 21 | 17 | 11 |
| 22 | 17 | 11 |
| 23 | 17 | 12 |
| 24 | 17 | 12 |
| 25 | 17 | 12 |
| 26 | 17 | 12 |
| 27 | 17 | 12 |
| 28 | 17 | 12 |
| 29 | 17 | 12 |
| 30 | 17 | 12 |
| 31 | 17 | 12 |
How December really feels in Timaru
Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Timaru weather by month
How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 4th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18° / 12° | 81 | 12.8 | 0 | 15 | 5.3 |
| Feb | 18° / 13° | 72 | 10.7 | 0 | 13.9 | 5.5 |
| Mar | 17° / 11° | 63 | 10.1 | 0 | 12.4 | 5.2 |
| Apr | 14° / 9° | 64 | 10.5 | 0 | 10.8 | 4.2 |
| May | 12° / 7° | 52 | 8.3 | 0 | 9.4 | 3.3 |
| Jun | 9° / 4° | 51 | 8.6 | 0.6 | 8.7 | 2.0 |
| Jul | 9° / 3° | 54 | 7.7 | 0.3 | 9 | 1.7 |
| Aug | 10° / 4° | 53 | 9.1 | 0.4 | 10.2 | 2.2 |
| Sep | 12° / 6° | 48 | 9 | 0.4 | 11.7 | 3.0 |
| Oct | 13° / 7° | 62 | 11.5 | 0.1 | 13.2 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 15° / 9° | 74 | 12.6 | 0.1 | 14.6 | 4.0 |
| Dec | 16° / 11° | 80 | 13.8 | 0 | 15.3 | 4.6 |
Cloud cover in December
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 67%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 35 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 37 |
| Cloudier (%) | 65 | 67 | 67 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 63 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35 | 65 |
| 2 | 33 | 67 |
| 3 | 33 | 67 |
| 4 | 32 | 68 |
| 5 | 32 | 68 |
| 6 | 32 | 68 |
| 7 | 31 | 69 |
| 8 | 31 | 69 |
| 9 | 31 | 69 |
| 10 | 31 | 69 |
| 11 | 31 | 69 |
| 12 | 31 | 69 |
| 13 | 31 | 69 |
| 14 | 32 | 68 |
| 15 | 32 | 68 |
| 16 | 32 | 68 |
| 17 | 32 | 68 |
| 18 | 33 | 67 |
| 19 | 34 | 66 |
| 20 | 34 | 66 |
| 21 | 34 | 66 |
| 22 | 34 | 66 |
| 23 | 34 | 66 |
| 24 | 34 | 66 |
| 25 | 34 | 66 |
| 26 | 35 | 65 |
| 27 | 35 | 65 |
| 28 | 36 | 64 |
| 29 | 36 | 64 |
| 30 | 37 | 63 |
| 31 | 37 | 63 |
Chance of precipitation in December
Timaru gets around 80 mm of rain over 13.8 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 45% and peaks near 45% on the wettest days.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 45 | 45 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 45 |
| 2 | 45 |
| 3 | 45 |
| 4 | 45 |
| 5 | 44 |
| 6 | 44 |
| 7 | 44 |
| 8 | 44 |
| 9 | 44 |
| 10 | 44 |
| 11 | 44 |
| 12 | 44 |
| 13 | 45 |
| 14 | 45 |
| 15 | 45 |
| 16 | 45 |
| 17 | 45 |
| 18 | 45 |
| 19 | 45 |
| 20 | 45 |
| 21 | 45 |
| 22 | 45 |
| 23 | 45 |
| 24 | 45 |
| 25 | 45 |
| 26 | 45 |
| 27 | 44 |
| 28 | 44 |
| 29 | 44 |
| 30 | 45 |
| 31 | 45 |
Humidity in December
Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 87% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 93 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 91 | 90 | 90 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 87 | 87 | 86 | 86 | 85 | 85 | 84 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 80 | 80 | 79 |
| Comfortable (%) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
| Humid (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | Humid (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 93 | 7 | 0 |
| 2 | 92 | 8 | 0 |
| 3 | 92 | 8 | 0 |
| 4 | 92 | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | 91 | 9 | 0 |
| 6 | 90 | 9 | 1 |
| 7 | 90 | 9 | 1 |
| 8 | 89 | 10 | 1 |
| 9 | 89 | 10 | 1 |
| 10 | 89 | 10 | 1 |
| 11 | 88 | 11 | 1 |
| 12 | 88 | 11 | 1 |
| 13 | 88 | 11 | 1 |
| 14 | 88 | 12 | 0 |
| 15 | 88 | 12 | 0 |
| 16 | 87 | 13 | 0 |
| 17 | 87 | 13 | 0 |
| 18 | 86 | 14 | 0 |
| 19 | 86 | 14 | 0 |
| 20 | 85 | 15 | 0 |
| 21 | 85 | 15 | 0 |
| 22 | 84 | 16 | 0 |
| 23 | 84 | 16 | 0 |
| 24 | 83 | 17 | 0 |
| 25 | 83 | 17 | 0 |
| 26 | 82 | 18 | 0 |
| 27 | 82 | 18 | 0 |
| 28 | 81 | 19 | 0 |
| 29 | 80 | 20 | 0 |
| 30 | 80 | 20 | 0 |
| 31 | 79 | 21 | 0 |
Wind in December
Winds average 14 km/h in December.
Across December, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 14 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Feels | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | light breeze |
| 2 | 14 | light breeze |
| 3 | 14 | light breeze |
| 4 | 14 | light breeze |
| 5 | 14 | light breeze |
| 6 | 14 | light breeze |
| 7 | 14 | light breeze |
| 8 | 14 | light breeze |
| 9 | 14 | light breeze |
| 10 | 14 | light breeze |
| 11 | 14 | light breeze |
| 12 | 14 | light breeze |
| 13 | 14 | light breeze |
| 14 | 14 | light breeze |
| 15 | 14 | light breeze |
| 16 | 14 | light breeze |
| 17 | 14 | light breeze |
| 18 | 14 | light breeze |
| 19 | 14 | light breeze |
| 20 | 14 | light breeze |
| 21 | 14 | light breeze |
| 22 | 14 | light breeze |
| 23 | 14 | light breeze |
| 24 | 14 | light breeze |
| 25 | 14 | light breeze |
| 26 | 14 | light breeze |
| 27 | 14 | light breeze |
| 28 | 14 | light breeze |
| 29 | 14 | light breeze |
| 30 | 14 | light breeze |
| 31 | 14 | light breeze |
Sunrise & sunset in December
Daylight runs from about 15 h 06 min at the start of December to 15 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 5:52 AM to 5:59 AM, and sunset from 8:58 PM to 9:17 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 15.1 | 15.1 | 15.1 | 15.2 | 15.2 | 15.2 | 15.2 | 15.2 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 5:52 | 5:52 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:50 | 5:50 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:52 | 5:52 | 5:52 | 5:53 | 5:53 | 5:53 | 5:54 | 5:54 | 5:55 | 5:56 | 5:56 | 5:57 | 5:58 | 5:58 | 5:59 |
| Sunset (PM) | 8:58 | 8:59 | 9:00 | 9:01 | 9:02 | 9:03 | 9:04 | 9:05 | 9:05 | 9:06 | 9:07 | 9:08 | 9:09 | 9:10 | 9:10 | 9:11 | 9:12 | 9:12 | 9:13 | 9:13 | 9:14 | 9:14 | 9:15 | 9:15 | 9:16 | 9:16 | 9:16 | 9:17 | 9:17 | 9:17 | 9:17 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15.1 | 5:52 | 8:58 |
| 2 | 15.1 | 5:52 | 8:59 |
| 3 | 15.1 | 5:51 | 9:00 |
| 4 | 15.2 | 5:51 | 9:01 |
| 5 | 15.2 | 5:51 | 9:02 |
| 6 | 15.2 | 5:51 | 9:03 |
| 7 | 15.2 | 5:51 | 9:04 |
| 8 | 15.2 | 5:51 | 9:05 |
| 9 | 15.3 | 5:50 | 9:05 |
| 10 | 15.3 | 5:50 | 9:06 |
| 11 | 15.3 | 5:51 | 9:07 |
| 12 | 15.3 | 5:51 | 9:08 |
| 13 | 15.3 | 5:51 | 9:09 |
| 14 | 15.3 | 5:51 | 9:10 |
| 15 | 15.3 | 5:51 | 9:10 |
| 16 | 15.3 | 5:51 | 9:11 |
| 17 | 15.3 | 5:52 | 9:12 |
| 18 | 15.3 | 5:52 | 9:12 |
| 19 | 15.3 | 5:52 | 9:13 |
| 20 | 15.3 | 5:53 | 9:13 |
| 21 | 15.3 | 5:53 | 9:14 |
| 22 | 15.3 | 5:53 | 9:14 |
| 23 | 15.3 | 5:54 | 9:15 |
| 24 | 15.3 | 5:54 | 9:15 |
| 25 | 15.3 | 5:55 | 9:16 |
| 26 | 15.3 | 5:56 | 9:16 |
| 27 | 15.3 | 5:56 | 9:16 |
| 28 | 15.3 | 5:57 | 9:17 |
| 29 | 15.3 | 5:58 | 9:17 |
| 30 | 15.3 | 5:58 | 9:17 |
| 31 | 15.3 | 5:59 | 9:17 |
Solar energy in December
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 6.62 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.39 kWh/m² to a high of 6.68 kWh/m² in January across the year — December's 6.62 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.2 |
| Level | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 2 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 3 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 4 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 5 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 6 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 7 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 8 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 9 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 10 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 11 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 12 | 6.5 | Intense |
| 13 | 6.6 | Intense |
| 14 | 6.6 | Intense |
| 15 | 6.6 | Intense |
| 16 | 6.6 | Intense |
| 17 | 6.6 | Intense |
| 18 | 6.7 | Intense |
| 19 | 6.7 | Intense |
| 20 | 6.7 | Intense |
| 21 | 6.8 | Intense |
| 22 | 6.8 | Intense |
| 23 | 6.9 | Intense |
| 24 | 6.9 | Intense |
| 25 | 7.0 | Intense |
| 26 | 7.0 | Intense |
| 27 | 7.1 | Intense |
| 28 | 7.1 | Intense |
| 29 | 7.1 | Intense |
| 30 | 7.2 | Intense |
| 31 | 7.2 | Intense |
Is December a good time to visit Timaru?
Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
December is a reasonable time to visit Timaru for sightseeing.
What to pack for Timaru in December
From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In December, Timaru sees daytime highs around 16°C and nights near 11°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: a warm layer and rain gear. About 14 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Timaru in December
The nearest coast averages about 15°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in February at about 17°C and coldest in August near 9°C.
The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Cool |
| Feb | 17 | Cool |
| Mar | 16 | Cool |
| Apr | 14 | Bracing |
| May | 12 | Bracing |
| Jun | 10 | Bracing |
| Jul | 9 | Bracing |
| Aug | 9 | Bracing |
| Sep | 10 | Bracing |
| Oct | 11 | Bracing |
| Nov | 13 | Bracing |
| Dec | 15 | Bracing |
UV index in Timaru in December
Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Timaru peaks around January 15 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 17 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Level | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 10 | Very high |
| Mar | 6 | High |
| Apr | 3 | Moderate |
| May | 2 | Low |
| Jun | 1 | Low |
| Jul | 1 | Low |
| Aug | 2 | Moderate |
| Sep | 3 | Moderate |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 10 | Very high |
Air quality in Timaru in December
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Timaru is worst in September — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.2× the cleanest month (June, 7 µg/m³).
Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Timaru's WHO annual average of 15 µg/m³.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 18 | 21 | 21 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18 | Moderate |
| Feb | 21 | Moderate |
| Mar | 21 | Moderate |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 8 | Good |
| Jun | 7 | Good |
| Jul | 8 | Good |
| Aug | 12 | Good |
| Sep | 23 | Moderate |
| Oct | 16 | Moderate |
| Nov | 17 | Moderate |
| Dec | 18 | Moderate |
Where is Timaru?
Timaru sits at 44.4°S, 171.3°E, 14 m above sea level, in New Zealand. The nearest listed city is Ashburton, 67 km away.
Topography around Timaru
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Timaru.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Timaru has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 57 m around an average of 11 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 383 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,287 m.
The land around Timaru is covered by water (44%) and artificial surfaces (26%) within 3 km, water (47%) and grassland (28%) within 16 km, and grassland (54%) and water (28%) within 80 km.
New Zealand travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type I
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 86% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $49,591
- 2025
- Happiness
- 7.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 100%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 1.5
- per 100k, 2022
- Road deaths
- 9.6
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Timaru (-44.3967°, 171.2536°, elevation 14 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).