Ever wonder what it would be like if we lived at about the same latitude in the Southern Hemisphere? In New Zealand the city of Christchurch is located at 43° 31’ south so it is about as far south of the Equator as we are north of it. And thus, their summer is in December, January, and February. And it is now fall there. Christchurch is the largest city on the south island of New Zealand and has a population of 377,200 in a country that has a total population of just under 5 million.
The name of “Christchurch” was agreed on at the first meeting of the “Canterbury Association” on March 27, 1848. “ChCh” used as an abbreviation of “Christchurch”.
Christchurch has a pleasant summer, mild winter, and regular moderate rainfall. It has mean daily maximum air temperatures of 22.5° C (73 °F) in January and 11.3 °C (52 °F) in July. In summer in the city is mostly warm but is often moderated by a sea breeze from the Northeast. A record temperature of 41.6 °C (107 °F) was reached in February 1973. A notable feature of the weather is the Nor’wester , a hot wind that occasionally reaches storm force, causing widespread minor damage to property. Like many cities, Christchurch experiences an heat island effect; temperatures are slightly higher within the inner city regions compared to the surrounding countryside. In winter it is common for the temperature to fall below 0 °C (32 °F) at night. There are on average 80 days of ground frost per year. Snowfalls occur on average three times per year, although in some years no snowfall is recorded. The coldest temperature recorded was −7.1 °C (19 °F) on July 18,1945, the third lowest recorded temperature of New Zealand’s major cities. On cold winter nights, the surrounding hills, clear skies, and frosty calm conditions often combine to form a stable inversion layer above the city that traps vehicle exhausts and smoke from domestic fires to cause smog.[62] While not as bad as smog in Los Angeles or Mexico City, Christchurch smog has often exceeded WHO recommendations for air pollution. To limit air pollution, the regional council banned the use of open fires in the city in 2006.[63] In 2008 council prohibited the use of woodturners more than 15 years old, while making funding available to upgrade domestic home heating systems.
Christchurch is on a island so they have a maritime climate thus their summers are cooler than ours and their winters are much warmer than ours. Here is are the average H/L for each month and the record highs and record lows and the % of sunshine for each month.. I for one would not mind if we had a similar climate as winter would be much more tolerable. Records there are from 1943 to 2019.
January average H/L 72/53. Record high 97 record low 37. Average % sunshine 48.3. rainfall 1.71”
February average H/L 71/53 record high 107 record low 35. Average % sunshine 49.1. rainfall 1.71”
March average H/L 68/50 record high 97 record low 32. Average % sunshine 46.2. rainfall 2.08”
April average H/L 63/44 record high 86 record low 25. Average % sunshine 47.5. rainfall 2.08”
May average H/L 58/39 record high 81 record low 21. Average % sunshine 44.5. rainfall 2.48”
June average H/L 53/34 record high 73 record low 19. Average % sunshine 43.6. rainfall 2.30”
July average H/L 51/33 record high 73 record low 20. Average % sunshine 43.3. rainfall 2.46”
August average H/L 54/20 record high 73 record low 20. Average % sunshine 46.4. rainfall 2.27
September average H/L 58/39 record high 79 record low 24. Average % sunshine 47.2. rainfall 1.67”
October average H/L 62/43 record high 86 record low 24. Average % sunshine 49.0. rainfall 1.90”
November average H/L 66/47 record high 90 record low 27. Average % sunshine 49.1. rainfall 1.87”
December average H/L 70/51 record high 97 record low 32. Average % sunshine 45.0. rainfall 1.98.
To me I would think that Christchurch being at about the same distance from the equator as Grand Rapids is has a much nice year round climate then we do here. Pleasant summers and rather mild winters. Remember Christchurch is closer to the sun in their summer then we are in ours so the sunlight would be a little stronger and in winter they are a little further away from the sun.
Have a good weekend (well the best you can)
Stay safe
Slim
In checking past heat waves in Phoenix one year that caught eye was 1992. In 1992 while not all records but all in the top 5 for the date. The high reached 100 on April 25, 101 on the 26th, 104 on the 27th, 104 on the 28th, 104 on the 29th, 101 on the 30th. Then 102 on May 1st, 101 on May 2nd and 100 on May 3rd. Of course the summer of 1992 was one of the coolest on record here in the Great Lakes
Slim
Been outside all day. Cabin fever has been horrible. I refuse to go back inside. Taking a break in my rocker on the front porch, enjoying an Oberon.
Stay healthy, my friends.
Oberon, good choice! 🍻
Great post, Slim! I can’t believe how much warmer it is down there.
Currently 48* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR! INDY…
If you use the climate compare from weatherspark.com, Christchurch has much cooler summers and is probably cloudier than even Grand Rapids. In fact, it’s “beach/pool” score is essentially zero year-round. I couldn’t imagine living in a place with no pools and never truly warm enough for the beach. Interesting how different certain places are.
Here is that climate summery from weatherspark.com.
https://weatherspark.com/y/144837/Average-Weather-in-Christchurch-New-Zealand-Year-Round
And for daily reports
https://www.wunderground.com/history/monthly/nz/christchurch/NZCH/date/2019-12
Not sure if there are any pools there or not. They would have a climate more like living on the west coast then we have. So think the state of Oregon.
Slim
WOOD now has four 60+ days upcoming, including 65 Tuesday and 68 degrees later in the week!
Great Scott 60* degree days in May!! INDY
It’s not May until Friday
The average high is now in the 60’s so what is the big deal?????
Slim
Nic read Slim! It does sound like a good place to live. Not so hot in the Summer, and Winters more like the one we just had, mild and mostly snowless. It is interesting that their sunshine percent varies only a couple percent the entire year. Around here we can go weeks without seeing the sun, but we also can go weeks with hardly any clouds.
It would be living in Oregon but not as cloudy in their winter time. It does get warm to very hot there but not too often last summer they did have two days of 90+ and while it get below 32 on many winter nights it is still mild during the day. And if one likes snow there are mountains that do have snow in the winter time on the south island. As for last winter that would be a very cold and snowy one there.
Slim
Having a bonfire outside in the driveway, with a neighbor and his daughter. Coffee, tea, muffins from scratch, and no rain(fingers crossed)! Maybe if we get lucky, we will see our first Oriole or Red-breasted Grosbeak at the feeder this morning…
Grand Rapids now has had 12 days in a row of below average temperatures and the mean for April is now at 42.6° and that is good for a departure of -4.2° The average high for today is 62 and by Thursday the average high is 64.
Slim
Ohhhh boy currently 38* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR another below average day ahead with clouds and April mix showers.. Got’s to love the February feel into May …..Have a happy furnace run kind of day INDY …..
The current temperature here is 40. While maybe not February is has had a March feel the last week. Ever wonder why Mookie has not posted the temperature at his/her house?
Slim
Thanks Slim
Sounds like a great place for retirement.
👍