Climate & Weather

Understanding our variable and changing climate is critical for managing resources and reducing risks.

  • Hottest November temperature in 15 years

    News article
    The hottest November temperature in New Zealand in at least the last 15 years occurred yesterday, when Gisborne reached a sizzling 34.8°C at 4.00 pm.
  • Hotspot Watch for 17 November 2016

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.
  • Hotspot Watch for 10 November 2016

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.
  • Welcome to jandal season: warmest days of the spring so far

    News article
    Warm nor’westers, or foehn winds, are forecast for parts of the eastern South Island tomorrow and Wednesday, before spreading to the east of the North Island from Wednesday into Thursday.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 3 Nov 2016

    Hotspot
    This week's update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    An update for 20 October describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.
  • Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook

    Media release
    Moderate La Niña or neutral tropical conditions expected to produce near average activity across most islands.
  • Is La Niña in our future or not?

    News article
    And... what would that mean for New Zealand?
  • Winter is coming – again

    Media release
    NIWA forecasters believe that winter will return with a vengeance from tomorrow.
  • NIWA Seasonal Climate Outlook: September - November 2016

    NIWA Forecaster Ben Noll hosts a broad-brush regional outlook for New Zealand's temperature and rainfall over the next three months.
  • Ready, set, go – it’s time for a warm leap into spring

    Media release
    It’s time to close the door on winter – spring will be here on Thursday bearing gifts of warm winds and sunshine for September.