Forecast for New Plymouth, New Zealand
Issued: 2026-04-05 08:39 NZST
Rest of Today, Sunday 5 April: Clear skies will continue through the afternoon before thickening into an overcast evening. Easterlies will blow between 10 and 20 km/h with gusts up to 30 km/h, easing to light southeasterlies by late evening. Temperatures will fall from around 20°C in the afternoon to about 16°C overnight.
Tomorrow, Monday 6 April: The sky will remain completely overcast throughout the day with dry conditions. Southeasterlies will shift to easterlies and northeasterlies, moving at 10 to 20 km/h with gusts reaching 40 km/h. The low will be near 14°C early in the morning, while the high is expected to reach 21°C in the afternoon.
Tuesday 7 April: Overcast skies will give way to light rain by mid-afternoon, turning to moderate rainfall through the evening. A total of 6 mm of rain will fall. Easterlies will strengthen to 20 to 30 km/h, with gusts reaching 50 km/h. The low will sit at 16°C, and the high will reach 20°C during the day.
Wednesday 8 April: Rain will persist through the morning and early afternoon, bringing a total of 23 mm before easing to partly cloudy skies by late afternoon. Northerlies will turn to westerlies and southwesterlies, blowing between 20 and 30 km/h with gusts up to 60 km/h. The low will be 15°C, and the high is expected near 20°C.
Thursday 9 April: Light rain will develop by mid-morning and continue through the afternoon, adding 2 mm to the total before skies clear in the evening. Southwesterlies will shift to westerlies and northwesterlies, moving at 5 to 10 km/h with gusts around 30 km/h. The low will drop to 13°C, while the high will reach 20°C.
Existing Vulnerabilities
- New Plymouth has urban areas developed within stream catchments, making businesses and residential properties vulnerable to flooding during extreme rainfall events.
- The city relies on a flood protection network, including detention dams (Huatoki, Mangaotuku, and Waimea) and various culverts, which are designed to manage runoff but can be overwhelmed in extreme cases.
- Low-lying coastal areas and specific locations like Onaero, Uruti, Waitara, and Omata are identified as prone to flooding, which can impact local road access.
- Infrastructure, particularly the electricity network (vulnerable to wind) and road network (vulnerable to slips), is critical, and failures can have consequential impacts on other lifeline services.
Weather Impact Thresholds
- Historical data indicates that extreme rainfall, such as 290mm in 24 hours, has caused major flooding in the past, though modern detention dams are designed to mitigate these impacts.
- Strong winds, particularly gusts, are a known hazard in New Plymouth, with the potential to damage property, trees, and disrupt transport, communications, and power networks.
- While specific modern "trigger" thresholds for current infrastructure are not publicly defined in mm or km/h, historical context shows that squally showers with gusts around 83 km/h have caused localized issues, and mean wind speeds of at least 31 km/hr are categorized as "strong" for the region.
Exposed Populations and Assets
- Residential and business properties located within the 13 urban stormwater catchments are exposed to potential ponding or flooding during heavy rainfall.
- Port Taranaki is a significant infrastructure asset vulnerable to liquefaction and potential tsunami impacts, and it is critical to regional supply chains.
- Low-lying coastal bridges and roads are vulnerable to weather-related hazards, which can lead to isolation of certain areas if access is cut off.
Upcoming Events
- Taranaki Home and Garden Show 2026: This event is scheduled to take place at the TSB Stadium from 10 April 2026 to 12 April 2026.
- Taranaki Cat Club Annual Show: This event is scheduled to take place at the Bell Block Hall on 11 April 2026.
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