Weather hazards

Information about climate and weather and links to climate-related websites.

Understanding what happens above and below ground during a flooding event, and how it is different from normal rainfall conditions

Maps of the average first and last dates of soil moisture deficit are shown here.

This weekly update helps assess likelihood of extremely dry weather preceding a drought. Regions experiencing severely to extremely drier than normal soil conditions are deemed “hotspots”

The New Zealand Drought Monitor is a system for keeping track of drought conditions across New Zealand based on a standardised climate index.

Dog Island levels

Scientists will be knocking on doors in Edgecumbe next week seeking to survey the damage done to buildings from recent flooding caused when a stopbank on the Rangitaiki River breached.

A new tool to monitor drought conditions across New Zealand has been launched today by NIWA.

There was a common factor in the floods that hit swathes of New Zealand midway through this year – they were all forecastable.

Cyclone Pam’s furious flight path across the South Pacific in March this year illustrated the danger natural hazards pose to life, livelihoods and infrastructural development in the region.

New Zealanders have just experienced one of the driest summers on record – great for beachgoers and cricket lovers, but far from ideal for farmers and orchardists relying on rain to maintain productivity.