New Plymouth vs Napier: which is sunnier?
🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 237 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
New Plymouth and Napier are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,321 vs 2,256 hours a year. Napier has the higher Sunshine Score in 10 of 12 months; the other 2 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
.jpg/500px-Napier_Art_Deco%2C_New_Zealand_(6567969).jpg)
At a glance
| New Plymouth | Napier | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,321 | 2,256 |
| Sunniest month | January (80/100) | February (82/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 74/100 | 81/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 31/100 | 36/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,230 mm | 852 mm |
| Warmest sea | 21°C / 70°F | 21°C / 70°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 9 (very high) |
New Plymouth vs Napier month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Plymouth | Napier | New Plymouth | Napier | New Plymouth | Napier | New Plymouth | Napier | |
| January | 80 | 81 | 21° | 24° | 69 | 62 | 21° | 21° |
| February | 78 | 82 | 22° | 24° | 80 | 52 | 20° | 21° |
| March | 77 | 80 | 21° | 22° | 82 | 65 | 19° | 19° |
| April | 61 | 71 | 18° | 19° | 103 | 78 | 18° | 18° |
| May | 47 | 59 | 16° | 17° | 123 | 72 | 17° | 15° |
| June | 34 | 38 | 14° | 14° | 128 | 87 | 15° | 14° |
| July | 29 | 31 | 13° | 13° | 121 | 96 | 14° | 12° |
| August | 29 | 39 | 13° | 14° | 118 | 73 | 13° | 12° |
| September | 42 | 52 | 15° | 16° | 107 | 73 | 14° | 14° |
| October | 49 | 66 | 16° | 18° | 105 | 73 | 15° | 15° |
| November | 64 | 82 | 18° | 20° | 85 | 54 | 17° | 17° |
| December | 72 | 80 | 20° | 23° | 109 | 67 | 18° | 20° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb Napier · Mar Napier · Apr Napier · May Napier · Jun Napier · Jul even · Aug Napier · Sep Napier · Oct Napier · Nov Napier · Dec Napier.
When to pick which
- November–February: Napier (average score 81/100 vs 74). Napier is the warmer, around 23°C daytime highs vs 20°C.
- March–May: Napier (average score 70/100 vs 62). Daytime highs are similar (18°C vs 19°C).
- June–August: Napier (average score 36/100 vs 31). Daytime highs are similar (13°C vs 14°C).
- September–October: Napier (average score 59/100 vs 46). Daytime highs are similar (16°C vs 17°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 21°C / 70°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): New Plymouth about 1 month a year, Napier about 2 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: New Plymouth weather by month · Napier weather by month · Best time to visit New Zealand.
More comparisons: New Plymouth vs Auckland · New Plymouth vs Wellington · New Plymouth vs Tauranga · Napier vs Auckland · Napier vs Tauranga · Napier vs Palmerston North · all head-to-heads