Is Christchurch sunnier than Invercargill?

Christchurch is the sunnier: about 2,377 hours of sunshine a year versus 1,949 — a difference of 428 hours.

Which is warmer, Christchurch or Invercargill?

Christchurch is warmer across the year: average daytime highs of 17°C (63°F) versus 13°C.

Which is better in winter (November–February), Christchurch or Invercargill?

Christchurch scores better across November–February: 79/100 average versus 47, with daytime highs around 22°C.

Christchurch vs Invercargill: which is sunnier?

🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 465 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Christchurch is the sunnier overall: about 2,377 hours of sunshine a year to Invercargill's 1,949. Christchurch has the higher Sunshine Score in 12 of 12 months — a clean sweep.

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Christchurch	Invercargill
Sunshine hours / year	2,377	1,949
Sunniest month	February (82/100)	February (54/100)
Nov–Feb average score	79/100	47/100
Jun–Aug average score	20/100	10/100
Rain / year	845 mm	1,256 mm
Peak midday UV	9 (very high)	8 (very high)

Christchurch vs Invercargill month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm
Month	Christchurch	Invercargill	Christchurch	Invercargill	Christchurch	Invercargill
January	80	52	24°	17°	67	116
February	82	54	23°	17°	58	97
March	82	48	21°	16°	61	102
April	59	36	17°	14°	77	102
May	39	23	14°	12°	79	116
June	20	12	11°	10°	80	101
July	13	6	10°	9°	73	97
August	27	12	12°	10°	70	88
September	41	24	14°	12°	57	103
October	52	29	16°	13°	78	116
November	74	35	19°	14°	68	113
December	79	47	22°	16°	77	105

The sunnier month by month: Jan Christchurch · Feb Christchurch · Mar Christchurch · Apr Christchurch · May Christchurch · Jun Christchurch · Jul Christchurch · Aug Christchurch · Sep Christchurch · Oct Christchurch · Nov Christchurch · Dec Christchurch.

When to pick which

November–February: Christchurch (average score 79/100 vs 47). Christchurch is the warmer, around 22°C daytime highs vs 16°C.
March–May: Christchurch (average score 60/100 vs 36). Christchurch is the warmer, around 17°C daytime highs vs 14°C.
June–August: Christchurch (average score 20/100 vs 10). Daytime highs are similar (11°C vs 10°C).
September–October: Christchurch (average score 47/100 vs 27). Christchurch is the warmer, around 15°C daytime highs vs 13°C.

Full month-by-month guides: Christchurch weather by month · Invercargill weather by month · Best time to visit New Zealand.

More comparisons: Christchurch vs Wellington · Christchurch vs Dunedin · Christchurch vs Blenheim · Invercargill vs Dunedin · Invercargill vs Blenheim · all head-to-heads