Cold summer start 2025

The story so far

An unseasonable cold snap in early January was expected to persist for at least another week, though MetService suggested warmer weather would return the following week.^{7 Jan 2025} MetService forecast cooler than usual temperatures across most of the country in mid-January, with dry conditions at first and possible humid air and rain later in the week.^{13 Jan 2025} Wellington had one of its least summery starts to the year since 2014, with 13 consecutive days of below-average temperatures.^{14 Jan 2025} In late January, cold southerly winds brought snow to Mt Hutt, and temperatures in some areas dropped by four degrees.^{27 Jan 2025} Christchurch recorded its coldest January this century, and NIWA later reported that January was New Zealand's coldest since 2017, with a national average of 16.4C.^{3, 5 Feb 2025}

Latest

NIWA's report confirmed the cold January nationally, with cooler than average temperatures across much of the country, including the South Island and parts of the North Island.^{5 Feb 2025}

Key moments

1. 7 Jan 2025Unseasonable cold snap expected to last at least another week.
2. 14 Jan 2025Wellington records one of its least summery starts since 2014.
3. 27 Jan 2025Summer snow falls on Mt Hutt after cold southerly winds.
4. 3 Feb 2025Christchurch records its coldest January this century.
5. 5 Feb 2025NIWA confirms January was coldest nationally since 2017.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.