NIWA

Climate

Latest news

Happy diamond anniversary for some laudable work

Media Release

5 May 2021

A Central Otago scientific research station with a globally revered reputation is marking its 60th anniversary.

Scientists examine high winds on Auckland Harbour Bridge

Media Release

27 April 2021

When high winds on the Auckland Harbour Bridge last September caused two trucks to topple over, one into a load-bearing strut, NIWA scientists began thinking about what role they could play in preventing it from happening again.

Hotspot Watch 9 April 2021

Hot spot

9 April 2021

Final Hotspot Watch update for this season. Weekly Hotspot Watches will return in the spring.

Hotspot Watch 1 April 2021

Hot spot

1 April 2021

A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.

Our work

Forecasting weather systems

NIWA’s research into forecasting weather systems aims to increase the resilience of New Zealand communities to weather-related hazards.

Our Future Climate New Zealand

Our Future Climate New Zealand is an interactive website that lets you to look at projections for a number of climate variables for New Zealand between now and 2100.

Seabed 2030

NIWA is leading a New Zealand partnership to map the South and West Pacific Ocean's seabed as part of a worldwide initiative to map the entire globe’s seafloor.

The Stormy Seas project

Does climate change affect the position of the Subtropical Front around New Zealand? This has important consequences for New Zealand's climate and biological productivity.

Latest videos

Glacier melt: A Time Capsule

Since 2016 enough ice has melted from the South Island’s Brewster Glacier to meet the drinking water needs of all New Zealanders for three years.

Tropical Cyclone Outlook: November 2020-April 2021

Tropical cyclone outlook Nov 2020 - Apr 2021

The NIWA and MetService assessment of named tropical cyclone (TC) activity indicates 8 to 10 named TCs could occur in the Southwest Pacific basin between November 2020 and April 2021. This seasonal outlook is for normal to below normal activity in terms of overall named cyclone systems in the region.

New Zealand 2019 climate summary

NIWA climate scientist Nava Fedaeff presents the NIWA annual climate summary for New Zealand 2019.

Handwriting recognition casts new light on climate change

Glacier melt: A Time Capsule

Since 2016 enough ice has melted from the South Island’s Brewster Glacier to meet the drinking water needs of all New Zealanders for three years.

Happy diamond anniversary for some laudable work

Media Release

5 May 2021

A Central Otago scientific research station with a globally revered reputation is marking its 60th anniversary.

Climate Summary for April 2021

Warmer and drier than normal for many

Seasonal climate outlook May - July 2021

Temperatures are very unlikely to be colder than average for the three months as a whole. Above average or near average temperatures are favoured for all regions except the east of the South Island, where above average temperatures are most likely.

Scientists examine high winds on Auckland Harbour Bridge

Media Release

27 April 2021

Hotspot Watch 9 April 2021

Hot spot

9 April 2021

Final Hotspot Watch update for this season. Weekly Hotspot Watches will return in the spring.

Island Climate Update 247 - April 2021

The NINO3.4 Index anomaly (in the central Pacific) during March was -0.44˚C. This marked the first time since August 2020 that SSTs in this region were in the neutral range. The SOI value for March was +0.1 (in the neutral range).

Climate Summary for March 2021

A month with long dry spells and late season warmth

Hotspot Watch 1 April 2021

Hot spot

1 April 2021

Seasonal climate outlook April - June 2021

For April-June, air pressure is expected to be lower than normal to the northwest and higher than normal to the east of the country. Although air flows will be mixed, slightly more easterly quarter winds are favoured for the three month period as a whole.

Hotspot Watch 12 March 2021

Hot spot

12 March 2021

Scientists watching lake on South Island glacier survey

Media Release

10 March 2021

Scientists undertaking the annual glacier snowline survey over the South Island later this month are keeping a watchful eye on a lake that has been forming and disappearing at the junction of the Tasman and Hochstetter glaciers.