NIWA

Climate

Latest news

Locked down, but breathing freely

28 July 2020

Some of the most striking images of lockdown around the world have been the blue skies of cities ordinarily choking in smog. From New Delhi to Los Angeles, Beijing to Paris, the changes were so remarkable they were visible from space.

NIWA crew face record time at sea

Media Release

21 July 2020

Coronavirus border restrictions mean six NIWA staff face four straight months at sea in a bid to keep an international ocean research project afloat.

The climate record that keeps getting broken

Media Release

3 July 2020

Among the multitude of New Zealand climate statistics there is one record that continues to be broken month after month.

Glaciers continue to melt away

Media Release

24 June 2020

Scientists 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.

Our work

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.

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

Annual Climate Summary 2018

New Zealand’s equal-2nd warmest year on record. Annual temperatures were above average across the majority of New Zealand, including much of the North Island as well as the western and southern South Island. See complete 2018 Annual Climate Summary details.

Extended warmth for South Island

Media Release

27 October 2017

A large area of high pressure will take up residence east of New Zealand for the next few days, bringing more unusual springtime warmth to parts of the South Island from tomorrow through to late next week, says NIWA forecaster Seth Carrier.

Southern spring sizzle sets records

Media Release

20 October 2017

An immense dome of high pressure stretched across the Tasman Sea onto the South Island yesterday, bringing the highest temperatures across New Zealand since April.

Climate Summary for September 2017

A wet month for many and warm on the eastern coasts.

Seasonal climate outlook October 2017 - December 2017

Many atmospheric and oceanic indicators in the tropical Pacific are on the La Niña side of neutral, although not yet strong enough to reach La Niña thresholds.

Retrospective: June-August 2017 Outlook

The atmospheric circulation around New Zealand was forecast to favour more anticyclonic flows (high pressure) than normal to start the three month period of June – August 2017, bringing extended periods of settled weather.

Outlook: September – November 2017

September – November 2017 temperatures are forecast to be above average for all regions of New Zealand (55% to 65% chance for above average temperatures).

Global setting: August 2017

ENSO (El Niño – Southern Oscillation) neutral conditions were still present in the tropical Pacific during August 2017.

Current climate: August 2017

Overall, mean sea level pressure was lower than normal over and to the west of New Zealand during August while higher than normal mean sea level pressure occurred offshore to the east

Retrospective: May-July 2017 Outlook

During May-July, the atmospheric circulation around New Zealand was forecast to favour slightly more south-westerly flows than normal, but variable circulation regimes were to be expected over the course of the season.

Outlook: August - October 2017

August – October 2017 temperatures are forecast to be above average for all regions of New Zealand, with high confidence (55-70% chance for above average temperatures). Nevertheless, frosts and cold snaps will occur during the remainder of winter and in early spring. Coastal water temperatures around New Zealand are forecast to remain above average over the next three-month period.

Global setting: July 2017

ENSO (El Niño – Southern Oscillation) neutral conditions (neither El Niño nor La Niña) continued in the tropical Pacific during July 2017, but this month mixed signals were again present. In particular, some atmospheric patterns have been recently leaning more towards weak La Niña conditions.

Current climate: July 2017

July was a tumultuous month due to the passage of several active low pressure systems and consequently there were numerous high impact weather events throughout the month

Seasonal climate outlook: August 2017 - October 2017

ENSO (El Niño – Southern Oscillation) neutral conditions (neither El Niño nor La Niña) continued in the tropical Pacific during July 2017, but this month mixed signals were again present. In particular some atmospheric patterns have been recently leaning more towards weak La Niña conditions.

Winter storm delivers wettest day on record

Media Release

24 July 2017

The latest atmospheric river over New Zealand delivered one town’s wettest day on record, and broke several other long-held rainfall statistics, according to NIWA data.

So far, so stormy

Media Release

13 July 2017

Today’s low came spinning off the coast of Hawke’s Bay funneling strong winds through the Cook Strait and hitting Wellington region with strong winds before moving on to Taranaki and Auckland this afternoon.

Retrospective: April-June 2017 Outlook

During April-June, the atmospheric circulation around New Zealand was expected to favour higher pressure than normal to the west of the country, with more anticyclonic south-westerly wind flows than normal, a pattern suggestive of El Niño.

Outlook: July – September 2017

July – September 2017 temperatures are about equally likely to be above average (45% chance) or near average (40% chance) for the west and east of the North Island.

Global setting: June 2017

The tropical Pacific remained in an ENSO (El Niño – Southern Oscillation) neutral state (neither El Niño nor La Niña) during June 2017, but oceanic and atmospheric anomalies were mixed, with some indicators leaning towards El Niño and others towards La Niña.

Current climate: June 2017

Overall, mean sea level air pressures were higher than normal over and to the east, west, and south New Zealand during June.

Six months in a (slightly) cooler climate

5 July 2017

Now the first six months of the year are done and dusted, NIWA forecasters have been analysing the country’s weather statistics to see where we stand compared to last year’s record breaker.