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.
Climate and weather
-
Glaciers continue to melt away
Media release24 June 2020Scientists analysing end-of-summer snowline survey photos have estimated that 13 million cubic meters of ice have been lost from just one glacier from 2016 to 2019. -
National Climate Change Risk Assessment
The NCCRA assessment was commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment and has identified the most significant risks we face from climate change. It will feed into the Government’s national adaptation plan. -
Auckland’s drought most extreme in modern times
Media release22 May 2020This is one of the most extreme drought events for Auckland in modern times and similar to one experienced in 1993/94. -
Seven weeks of clearing the air provides huge benefits
Media release18 May 2020Seven weeks of lockdown has provided evidence of how pollution can vanish overnight with benefits for the environment and individuals, says NIWA air quality scientist Dr Ian Longley. -
Hotspot Watch 7 May 2020
Hotspot07 May 2020Please note that this will be the final Hotspot Watch update for this season. Weekly Hotspot Watches will return in the spring. -
Citizen science – New Zealand rainfall monitoring network
For more than a century, a network of volunteers across New Zealand have been measuring the climate and weather and sending their observations each month to be entered into the New Zealand climate database. -
Drought hits hard, far and wide
Media release05 May 2020Analysis of drought conditions across New Zealand this year shows it is one of the most severe on record for some regions. -
Hotspot Watch 1 May 2020
Hotspot03 May 2020Minor to moderate soil moisture decreases across the entire North Island with severe meteorological drought in parts of northern Auckland, Coromandel and southern coast of Hawke's Bay. Drier than normal conditions are still present in the top of the South Island but significant rainfall in the west. -
Hotspot Watch 23 April 2020
Hotspot24 April 2020Moderate soil moisture increases in the western North Island and in the Far North, while soil moisture decreases were observed along the east coast and Wairarapa. Many parts of the South Island saw small soil moisture increases during the past week, although small decreases were observed in northern Canterbury. -
Bushfire smoke continues trip around world
Media release23 April 2020A blob of smoke from the Australian bushfires is continuing to circle the globe almost four months after it formed. -
Huge waves on Wellington coast to ease later today, says NIWA
Media release15 April 2020High waves pounding Wellington’s south coast today are being caused by a deep area of low pressure passing the Chatham Islands, according to NIWA forecaster Ben Noll.
