Avg High
Christchurch in March
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
12h
What to expect
In Christchurch, March sits in early autumn, a shoulder-season month where the feel can shift as the season turns. Most days land in a mild, easygoing zone, with evenings that ease back comfortably. Daylight is moderate, so steady pacing works well. Comfort is usually predictable, so a standard day plan works well.
March in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Christchurch.
Hottest (avg)
#4 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#10 / 12
Daylight Hours
#6 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#6 / 12
Highest UV
#6 / 12
Most Humid
#8 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 12.4 h
- UV index (max)
- 7
- Typical sun hours
- 07:25 - 19:48
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 9 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 57%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 73%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for March. Typical high 18.7°C and low 11.3°C.
Typical disruptions in March
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in March.
Rain High impact
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 9% of days (2.8 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.8 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.8 days / month
- Probability ~9% of days
- Intensity Up to ~30mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 9% of days (2.8 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.8 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.8 days / month
- Probability ~9% of days
- Intensity Up to ~30mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 7% of days (2.2 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.2 days / month
~7% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.2 days / month
- Probability ~7% of days
- Intensity Up to ~88km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~93km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cold Moderate
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 10% of days (3.2 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.2 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.2 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~3 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Show all disruptions (16 more)
Rain High impact
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 4% of days (1.2 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.2 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.2 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~33mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.5 days/month in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~32mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~39mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Severe gusts Measures: Severe gust days (>=80 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~95km/h (P95)
Severe gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 53% of days (16.4 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.4 days / month
~53% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.4 days / month
- Probability ~53% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~16 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 45% of days (14.0 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
14.0 days / month
~45% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 14.0 days / month
- Probability ~45% of days
- Intensity Up to ~71km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~14 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 39% of days (12.0 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.0 days / month
~39% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.0 days / month
- Probability ~39% of days
- Intensity Up to ~15mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~12 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 27% of days (8.3 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.3 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.3 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~20h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~8 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 26% of days (8.1 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.1 days / month
~26% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.1 days / month
- Probability ~26% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 25% of days (7.7 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.7 days / month
~25% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.7 days / month
- Probability ~25% of days
- Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~8 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 17% of days (5.3 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.3 days / month
~17% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.3 days / month
- Probability ~17% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~5 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 11% of days (3.4 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.4 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.4 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~34km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Visibility Minor
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Other Minor
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold Minor
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~0 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Is March a good time to visit Christchurch?
Typical March days in Christchurch reach highs of 19°C (66°F) with nights around 11°C (52°F). It usually feels mild by day and cool after dark. It is one of the drier months, which suits outdoor exploring and sightseeing.
What are temperatures like in March?
In March, you can usually expect highs of 19°C (66°F) and lows near 11°C (52°F). That means mild days and cool nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in March?
Rainfall in March averages 46 mm (1.8 in) across roughly 9 days. Overall it is a moderately wet time of year, so showers are usually brief rather than all-day downpours.
How many hours of daylight are there in March?
You can expect about 12 hours of daylight in March. Sunrise is typically around 07:25 and sunset near 19:48. Daylight is fairly typical, with enough time for sightseeing.
How strong is the sun in March?
UV levels are often high (around 7). Regular sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
Is it windy in March?
In March, average wind speeds are around 14 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 59 km/h (37 mph). On the ground, it is it can feel quite windy at times, particularly when weather systems move through.