Palmerston North vs New Plymouth: which is sunnier?
🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 191 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
New Plymouth is the sunnier overall: about 2,321 hours of sunshine a year to Palmerston North's 2,196. New Plymouth has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months, Palmerston North in 3 (4 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 | New Plymouth | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,196 | 2,321 |
| Sunniest month | January (81/100) | January (80/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 76/100 | 74/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 27/100 | 31/100 |
| Rain / year | 948 mm | 1,230 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 9 (very high) | 11 (extreme) |
Palmerston North vs New Plymouth month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmerston North | New Plymouth | Palmerston North | New Plymouth | Palmerston North | New Plymouth | |
| January | 81 | 80 | 23° | 21° | 58 | 69 |
| February | 80 | 78 | 23° | 22° | 61 | 80 |
| March | 80 | 77 | 21° | 21° | 63 | 82 |
| April | 64 | 61 | 18° | 18° | 78 | 103 |
| May | 44 | 47 | 15° | 16° | 86 | 123 |
| June | 31 | 34 | 13° | 14° | 99 | 128 |
| July | 25 | 29 | 12° | 13° | 92 | 121 |
| August | 25 | 29 | 12° | 13° | 86 | 118 |
| September | 38 | 42 | 14° | 15° | 82 | 107 |
| October | 50 | 49 | 16° | 16° | 90 | 105 |
| November | 66 | 64 | 18° | 18° | 71 | 85 |
| December | 77 | 72 | 21° | 20° | 82 | 109 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Palmerston North · Apr Palmerston North · May New Plymouth · Jun New Plymouth · Jul New Plymouth · Aug New Plymouth · Sep New Plymouth · Oct even · Nov even · Dec Palmerston North.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Palmerston North averages 76/100, New Plymouth 74/100. Daytime highs are similar (21°C vs 20°C).
- March–May: too close to call — Palmerston North averages 63/100, New Plymouth 62/100. Daytime highs are similar (18°C vs 18°C).
- June–August: New Plymouth (average score 31/100 vs 27). Daytime highs are similar (12°C vs 13°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Palmerston North averages 44/100, New Plymouth 46/100. Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 16°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Palmerston North weather by month · New Plymouth weather by month · Best time to visit New Zealand.
More comparisons: Palmerston North vs Wellington · Palmerston North vs Napier · Palmerston North vs Blenheim · New Plymouth vs Auckland · New Plymouth vs Wellington · New Plymouth vs Tauranga · all head-to-heads