AI-generatedPalmerston North at a glance
- Best time
- Nov – Apr
- Warmest month
- Feb · 23°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,050 h
- Rain a year
- 1,032 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+13 / UTC+12
- Elevation
- 34 m
Climate in Palmerston North
Palmerston North has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. February is the warmest month with average highs of 23 °C, while July is the coolest at 13 °C. With around 2,050 hours of sunshine a year, Palmerston North is moderately sunny; February is the sunniest month with 7.4 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Palmerston North
The best time to visit Palmerston North is from November to April. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from January to May and in November. Rain is frequent from June to October; the wettest month is October with 104 mm.
Palmerston North through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Palmerston North in spring
Sep – Nov
Good
- 15–19 °C by day
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Palmerston North in summer
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 21–23 °C by day
- 7.2 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days in all
Palmerston North in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 16–22 °C by day
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
Palmerston North in winter
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 13–14 °C by day
- 4.1 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jan – May, Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jun – Oct
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Palmerston North for you.
Your best months: January – March
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: November – April
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 10°
- Midday, 13:00: about 16°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 17°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
06:3019:36
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:13–07:07 · evening 19:00–19:53
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:03–06:13 · evening 19:53–20:04
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Palmerston North compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs rise from about 16° at the start of the month to 18° at the end. The days get 1.3 h longer.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 16° | 18° |
| Night-time low | 7° | 9° |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 13.7 h |
What is the weather like in Palmerston North in October?
In October, Palmerston North is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. Expect around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 104 mm. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 13 h 5 min06:30 – 19:36
- UV index
- 7 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 28 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 61 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+13offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %88 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %47 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %29 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Palmerston North
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
February has the better holiday weather in Palmerston North: score 87 against 62. In February, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. February has 6 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 62 | 87better |
| Daytime high | 17° | 23° |
| Night-time low | 8° | 14° |
| Sunshine | 5.8 h | 7.4 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 14 | 8better |
| Rainfall | 104 mm | 66 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 0better | 1 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Palmerston North month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
84January23° · 7.3 h
In January, Palmerston North is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 7.3 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 69 mm. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in January87February23° · 7.4 h
In February, Palmerston North is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sun shines for around 7.4 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 66 mm. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in February82March22° · 6.4 h
In March, Palmerston North is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 65 mm. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in March73April19° · 5.1 h
In April, Palmerston North is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 85 mm in total. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in April60May16° · 4.3 h
In May, Palmerston North is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. Expect around 4.3 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in May42June14° · 3.4 h
In June, Palmerston North is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 95 mm in total. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in June40July13° · 4.0 h
In July, Palmerston North is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. Expect around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 97 mm in total. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in July45August14° · 4.8 h
In August, Palmerston North is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. Expect around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 96 mm in total. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in August55September15° · 5.3 h
In September, Palmerston North is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 89 mm in total. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in September62October17° · 5.8 h
In October, Palmerston North is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. Expect around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 104 mm. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in October75November19° · 6.7 h
In November, Palmerston North is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 6.7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 79 mm in total. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in November74December21° · 6.8 h
In December, Palmerston North is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 6.8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 101 mm in total. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North in DecemberClimate in detail
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Palmerston North
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
CoolOctober: nights around 8°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in July (5°), the warmest in February (14°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from June to September, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 84 | 23° | 13° | 7.3 h | 9 | 69 |
| FebruaryFeb | 87 | 23° | 14° | 7.4 h | 8 | 66 |
| MarchMar | 82 | 22° | 12° | 6.4 h | 9 | 65 |
| AprilApr | 73 | 19° | 10° | 5.1 h | 11 | 85 |
| MayMay | 60 | 16° | 8° | 4.3 h | 12 | 87 |
| JuneJun | 42 | 14° | 6° | 3.4 h | 13 | 95 |
| JulyJul | 40 | 13° | 5° | 4.0 h | 13 | 97 |
| AugustAug | 45 | 14° | 5° | 4.8 h | 13 | 96 |
| SeptemberSep | 55 | 15° | 6° | 5.3 h | 13 | 89 |
| OctoberOct | 62 | 17° | 8° | 5.8 h | 14 | 104 |
| NovemberNov | 75 | 19° | 10° | 6.7 h | 12 | 79 |
| DecemberDec | 74 | 21° | 12° | 6.8 h | 13 | 101 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
40.36° S, 175.61° E · 34 m · Pacific/Auckland
Sunshine hours in Palmerston North
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.8 of 13.1 hours of daylight in Palmerston North, 44 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Palmerston North: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Palmerston North has about 14 rainy days with 104 mm of rain in total.
UV index in Palmerston North
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 7 · highSeek shade around midday; sunscreen SPF 30+, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in December (UV 10).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 20 min
- Fair skin
- about 25 min
- Light brown skin
- about 30 min
- Olive skin
- about 40 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind and clouds in Palmerston North
How breezy and how cloudy Palmerston North is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Palmerston North typically peaks at 28 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 61 % of the sky over Palmerston North: variable cloud, with about 5.8 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Planning a trip to Palmerston North
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Palmerston North in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Palmerston North has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 79) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 43).
- 76
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 20 °C by day
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 56
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 16 °C by day
- 4.1 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 43
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 14 °C by day
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 62
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 17 °C by day
- 5.8 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 79
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
GoodBest holidays
- 22 °C by day
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 23 h 5 min
- Distance
- 18,740 km
- Time zone
- UTC+13
- Jet lag
- About 12 days (12 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Compare & alternatives
Palmerston North compared
Put Palmerston North side by side with another destination.
Palmerston North vs Whanganui
In October the holiday weather in Palmerston North and Whanganui is about equally good (score 62 vs 64). During the day it is about as warm in Whanganui as in Palmerston North.
| in October | Palmerston North | Whanganui |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 62 | 64 |
| Daytime high | 17° | 17° |
| Sea | no sea nearby | 14° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 14 | 14 |
| Best time | Nov – Apr | Feb |
Through the year
New Zealand in October: the best places
In October, Palmerston North ranks 10 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Hastings19°83
- 2Blenheim18°74
- 3Tauranga18°16°73
- 4Christchurch17°73
- 5Auckland18°16°72
- 6Matamata18°69
- 7Hamilton18°67
- 8Rotorua17°65
- 10Palmerston NorthThis page17°62
Near Palmerston North
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Palmerston North
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Palmerston North's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Palmerston North
When is the best time to visit Palmerston North?
The best time to visit Palmerston North is from November to April. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Palmerston North?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C and nights around 14 °C. July is the coolest month at 13 °C.
When does it rain most in Palmerston North?
Rain is frequent from June to October; the wettest month is October with 104 mm. The driest month is March with 65 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Palmerston North get?
Palmerston North gets around 2,050 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is February with 7.4 hours a day; in June there are 3.4 hours a day.
What time zone is Palmerston North in?
Palmerston North is on UTC+13 in January and UTC+12 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Palmerston North?
A nonstop flight from London to Palmerston North takes about 23 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 18,740 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Palmerston North?
Palmerston North has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 79) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 43). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 76, May half-term 56, summer holidays 43, October half-term 62, Christmas holidays 79.