Climate & Weather

Understanding our variable and changing climate is critical for managing resources and reducing risks.

Drought forecasting dashboard

NIWA and MPI are working together to develop a new drought forecasting tool. It uses innovative climate modelling, the latest in machine learning and other data-driven techniques to predict rainfall 35 days ahead. It will help farmers and growers better prepare for periods of dryness and drought.

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  • Link to source page

    Tropical Torrent by the numbers

    Media release
    07 April 2017
    The Tropical Torrent that spread over New Zealand this week, produced up to three times the normal April rainfall for some locations in three days, NIWA forecaster Ben Noll says.

  • Link to source page

    Tropical Torrent takes aim at New Zealand

    Media release
    31 March 2017
    After thrashing Australia, what’s left of ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie is forecast to slowly move across the Tasman Sea over the weekend and soak New Zealand next week.

  • Link to source page

    NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 30 March 2017

    Hotspot
    30 March 2017
    The final weekly update for the 2016-17 summer describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

  • Link to source page

    NIWA launches New Zealand Drought Index - a one-stop drought monitor

    Media release
    24 March 2017
    A new tool to monitor drought conditions across New Zealand has been launched today by NIWA.
    Extreme weather
    Scientific Tools & Data

  • Link to source page

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    Copyright and Conditions of NIWA Data Access and Use

  • Link to source page

    Hotspot Watch for 16 March 2017

    Hotspot
    16 March 2017
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. 

  • Link to source page

    The Tasman Tempest takes its toll - time to tally up

    Media release
    13 March 2017
    As the Tasman Tempest headed east off New Zealand today, it’s time to look at the statistics and see how many records it washed away.

  • Link to source page

    Meteorological March Madness

    Media release
    08 March 2017
    NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll says parts of the upper North Island have received more rain in two days than normally falls for the entire month.

  • Link to source page

    NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 2 March 2017

    Hotspot
    02 March 2017
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

  • Link to source page

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    Wellington's summer was bad, but not as bad as you think—honest

    Media release
    27 February 2017
    Summer officially ends tomorrow but for Wellingtonians it feels like it’s only just getting started. NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll explains what went wrong.

  • Link to source page

    Hotspot Watch for 23 Feb 2017

    Hotspot
    23 February 2017
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

  • Link to source page

    World-leading climate change research

    News article
    23 February 2017
    Effects of climate change on fish are being studied at NIWA's Northland Marine Research Centre.
    Climate change
    Fisheries