Rainfall

Latest news

Auckland’s drought most extreme in modern times

Media Release

22 May 2020

This is one of the most extreme drought events for Auckland in modern times and similar to one experienced in 1993/94.

Drought hits hard, far and wide

Media Release

5 May 2020

Analysis of drought conditions across New Zealand this year shows it is one of the most severe on record for some regions.

Ten years of the weather with you

Feature story

30 December 2019

In the past 10 years, more weather records have been broken than in any other time in New Zealand’s history.

Rare weather phenomenon possible

Media Release

22 August 2019

NIWA meteorologists are keeping an eye on an unusual atmospheric phenomenon that is amassing in the polar stratosphere.

Our work

Climate Present and Past

Climate Present and Past is a core-funded project under NIWA's National Climate Centre. It aims to explore historical climate data and track past changes in climate through a range of approaches.

Latest videos

2017 Annual Climate Summary

Chris Brandolino (Principal Scientist - Forecasting) presents the 2017 Annual Climate Summary. See the detailed Annual Climate Summary.

Auckland’s drought most extreme in modern times

Media Release

22 May 2020

This is one of the most extreme drought events for Auckland in modern times and similar to one experienced in 1993/94.

Drought hits hard, far and wide

Media Release

5 May 2020

Analysis of drought conditions across New Zealand this year shows it is one of the most severe on record for some regions.

Ten years of the weather with you

Feature story

30 December 2019

In the past 10 years, more weather records have been broken than in any other time in New Zealand’s history.

Climate Summary for August 2019

Variable temperature and rainfall patterns with frequent southwesterly winds.

Rare weather phenomenon possible

Media Release

22 August 2019

NIWA meteorologists are keeping an eye on an unusual atmospheric phenomenon that is amassing in the polar stratosphere.

The New Zealand Water Model (NZWaM) – a new water modelling approach

Models have an important role to play in water management in New Zealand. To be useful, models need to be both flexible and complex; flexible because they are needed for a wide range of purposes, and complex because they need to simulate complex natural and man-made systems

HIRDS

HIRDS is a simple online tool that can estimate the magnitude and frequency of high intensity rainfall at any point in New Zealand.

2017 Annual Climate Summary

Chris Brandolino (Principal Scientist - Forecasting) presents the 2017 Annual Climate Summary. See the detailed Annual Climate Summary.

2017 Annual Climate Summary

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook

A summary of up-coming tropical cyclone seasons, issued 6-monthly.

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - October 2017

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook: Near-normal season expected, but with increased activity west, reduced activity east.

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook update October 2017

Media Release

10 October 2017

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook: Near-normal season expected, but with increased activity west, reduced activity east

Co-innovation and Water Management

Rainfall in many irrigated regions of NZ is uniformly distributed (in time) and, theoretically, irrigations could be scheduled based around forecast rainfall. However, in the absence of easy access to reliable rainfall forecast information, farmers seldom irrigate based upon forecast, often irrigating right before significant rainfall events, resulting in the loss of water and nutrients from the root-zone, either by drainage and leaching, or via overland flow.

Tropical Cyclone Cook churning across Pacific

Media Release

10 April 2017

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

7 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.

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.

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.

Meteorological March Madness

Media Release

8 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.

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook update

Media Release

10 February 2017

Near average tropical cyclone numbers for the remainder of the season.

July-like storm strikes New Zealand in January

Media Release

19 January 2017

The intense low pressure system that developed in the Tasman sea late yesterday had become as strong as a category 2 tropical cyclone by 8am today, says NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll.