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NiwaWeather

NIWA Weather forecasts and rainfall maps for New Zealand towns and cities.

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

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.

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.

Island Climate Update 246 - March 2021

The NINO3.4 Index anomaly (in the central Pacific) during January was -0.68˚C, entering ENSO “cool neutral” territory (-0.5 to -0.69˚C) for the first time since August 2020.

Hotspot Watch 5 March 2021

Hot spot

5 March 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.

Climate Summary for February 2021

A dry month with mixed temperatures.

Summer 2020-21

Dry for much of the country, near average temperatures

Seasonal climate outlook March - May 2021

During autumn, New Zealand’s climate patterns are expected to become more variable as the impact from a non-traditional central Pacific La Niña starts to ease.

Hotspot Watch 26 February 2021

Hot spot

26 February 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.

Hotspot Watch 19 February 2021

Hot spot

19 February 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.

Hotspot Watch 12 February 2021

Hot spot

12 February 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.

Hotspot Watch 5 February 2021

Hot spot

5 February 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.

Seasonal climate outlook February - April 2021

Temperatures are most likely to be above average in the north of the North Island and about equally likely to be near average or above average in all other regions.

Hotspot Watch 28 January 2021

Hot spot

28 January 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.

Hotspot Watch 22 January 2021

Hot spot

22 January 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.

There’s snow business in the mountains

Feature story

20 January 2021

On a still and sunny December day when most Kiwis were looking longingly towards the beach, two NIWA researchers staff had their eyes firmly on the Southern Alps.

Hotspot Watch 15 January 2021

Hot spot

15 January 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.

Annual Climate Summary 2020

2020: New Zealand’s 7th-warmest year on record

Climate Summary for December 2020

A dry and mild end to the year

Hotspot Watch 8 January 2021

Hot spot

8 January 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.

Island Climate Update 244 - January 2021

The NINO3.4 Index anomaly (in the central Pacific) for the last month (through the 3 rd of January) was 0.84˚C, increasing from 1.03˚C from last month.

Seasonal climate outlook January – March 2021

Sub-tropical air flows may fuel areas of localised, heavy rainfall that can cause flooding, similar to what was in experienced in parts of the country during late December and early January.

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