Climate & Weather

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

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    Mean daily maximum temperatures (°C)

    These datasets are available in a range of formats.
  • El Niño maps and charts

    View a collection of maps showing the impact of past El Niño and La Niña events.
  • Lauder Atmospheric Research Station

    UVI forecast for Specific Sites

    Check out UV index forecasts for locations in New Zealand (including ski fields), Australia, the Pacific and Antarctica.
  • Edgecumbe flood damage

  • Tropical Cyclone Cook churning across Pacific

    Media release
    NIWA meteorologist Seth Carrier outlines the likely path of Cyclone Cook, which is gaining strength in the Pacific.
  • Tropical Torrent by the numbers

    Media release
    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.
  • Tropical Torrent takes aim at New Zealand

    Media release
    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.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 30 March 2017

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

    Media release
    A new tool to monitor drought conditions across New Zealand has been launched today by NIWA.
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    Copyright and Conditions of NIWA Data Access and Use

  • Hotspot Watch for 16 March 2017

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