Is Palmerston North sunnier than Napier?

They are nearly tied: Palmerston North gets about 2,196 hours of sunshine a year and Napier about 2,256.

Which is warmer, Palmerston North or Napier?

Napier is warmer across the year: average daytime highs of 19°C (66°F) versus 17°C.

Which is better in winter (November–February), Palmerston North or Napier?

Napier scores better across November–February: 81/100 average versus 76, with daytime highs around 23°C.

Palmerston North vs Napier: which is sunnier?

🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 143 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Palmerston North and Napier are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,196 vs 2,256 hours a year. Napier has the higher Sunshine Score in 9 of 12 months; the other 3 are within 2 points.

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

At a glance

	Palmerston North	Napier
Sunshine hours / year	2,196	2,256
Sunniest month	January (81/100)	February (82/100)
Nov–Feb average score	76/100	81/100
Jun–Aug average score	27/100	36/100
Rain / year	948 mm	852 mm
Peak midday UV	9 (very high)	9 (very high)

Palmerston North vs Napier month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm
Month	Palmerston North	Napier	Palmerston North	Napier	Palmerston North	Napier
January	81	81	23°	24°	58	62
February	80	82	23°	24°	61	52
March	80	80	21°	22°	63	65
April	64	71	18°	19°	78	78
May	44	59	15°	17°	86	72
June	31	38	13°	14°	99	87
July	25	31	12°	13°	92	96
August	25	39	12°	14°	86	73
September	38	52	14°	16°	82	73
October	50	66	16°	18°	90	73
November	66	82	18°	20°	71	54
December	77	80	21°	23°	82	67

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

When to pick which

November–February: Napier (average score 81/100 vs 76). Napier is the warmer, around 23°C daytime highs vs 21°C.
March–May: Napier (average score 70/100 vs 63). Daytime highs are similar (18°C vs 19°C).
June–August: Napier (average score 36/100 vs 27). Napier is the warmer, around 14°C daytime highs vs 12°C.
September–October: Napier (average score 59/100 vs 44). Napier is the warmer, around 17°C daytime highs vs 15°C.

Full month-by-month guides: Palmerston North weather by month · Napier weather by month · Best time to visit New Zealand.

More comparisons: Palmerston North vs Wellington · Palmerston North vs New Plymouth · Palmerston North vs Blenheim · Napier vs Auckland · Napier vs Tauranga · Napier vs New Plymouth · all head-to-heads