Wānaka was lucky to enjoy high sunshine hours during January 2025, unlike many parts of New Zealand, but our January ranked as only the 17th equal hottest January here since records began in 1972.

NIWA climate scientist Gregor Macara told the Wānaka App that sunshine hours (which are measured in Queenstown and Cromwell but not Wānaka) were 15 to 20 percent higher than expected in January.

He was “reasonably confident” this showed sunshine hours were higher across the whole region.

Wānaka was drier than usual in January, receiving just 22 millimetres of rain - 40 percent of what is normal for January. 

“The mean or average temperature across the month was 17.9 degrees Celsius, which was 0.6 degrees higher than usual in January,” Gregor said.

The average daily maximum temperature during January was 24.9 degrees Celsius, which was 1.1 degrees Celsius higher than the January average.

“It doesn’t necessarily sound like much but when you’re averaging temperatures across the month,” he said. “But to be a full one degree higher across a month is quite notable.” 

January 2018 was the hottest on record for Wānaka, Gregor said, and this January didn’t even make the top four.

“It’s still the 17th equal hottest since 1972 - out of 51 summers,” he said.

Warmer lake temperatures have also been a bonus from fewer and lighter winds than usual.

“It’s also been sunnier - warming up the layers of water,” Gregor said.

January 2025 was the 17th equal hottest January in Wānaka since 1972.

In December NIWA predicted that the La Niña weather pattern would mean dry conditions for the lower South Island, and Gregor said while that did happen, the La Niña system was a “weak version”.

“It’s not forecasted to last long; It’s not giving us a clear steer on how it will affect our weather,” he said.

Gregor said the Southern Annular Mode (a ring of climate variability that encircles the South Pole and extends out to the latitudes of New Zealand) may also be a factor in the generally more settled weather.

The weather is expected to cool today (Thursday February 6) and into next week, with some rain expected.

The outlook for the rest of summer is looking to be “near normal temperatures expected overall” for this time of the year, Gregor said. 

PHOTOS: Wānaka App