Drought forecasting dashboard
NIWA and MPI are working together to develop a new drought forecasting tool. It uses innovative climate modelling, the latest in machine learning and other data-driven techniques to predict rainfall 35 days ahead. It will help farmers and growers better prepare for periods of dryness and drought.
Climate and weather
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Our seas are sizzling again
Media release30 November 2021Coastal sea temperatures around Aotearoa New Zealand have risen well above average, NIWA forecasters say. -
Hotspot Watch 26 November 2021
Hotspot26 November 2021A 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. -
Tropical Cyclone Outlook: November 2021-April 2022
The NIWA and MetService assessment of named tropical cyclone (TC) activity indicates 9 to 12 named TCs could occur in the Southwest Pacific basin between November 2021 and April 2022. The seasonal outlook is for normal to slightly above normal activity in terms of overall named TCs in the region. -
Climate Data for the Environment Services Client (CliDEsc)
Research ProjectCliDEsc is a web-based content management system and product generator library developed by NIWA in consultation with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in the Pacific region, and with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. -
Hotspot Watch 18 November 2021
Hotspot18 November 2021A 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 11 November 2021
Hotspot11 November 2021A 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 4 November 2021
Hotspot04 November 2021A 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. -
Quantifying and reducing agricultural emissions of greenhouse gases
Research ProjectAlmost half of Aotearoa New Zealand’s CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. This is a much higher proportion than most other countries – globally, agricultural emissions average around 7.5% of a country’s total emissions. -
Coastal flooding likely to be main driver for adaptation
Media release12 October 2021New NIWA-led research shows increasing flood risk is going to be what leads people to make changes to adapt to sea-level rise. -
Field technicians greeted by thigh-deep snow
News article30 September 2021Christchurch-based environmental monitoring technicians Alec Dempster and Pieter Havelaar got way off the beaten track this week, heading to a snow-covered Mt Potts for weather station servicing in clear blue skies and some of the deepest snow they’ve ever worked in. -
It’s the warmest winter on record - again
Media release03 September 2021Aotearoa New Zealand has just experienced its warmest winter on record – well exceeding the previous record which was set just last year. -
The weather’s better in lockdown, right?
Media release26 August 2021A record-equalling top temperature of 23ᵒC in Akaroa on Tuesday prompted a feeling of déjà vu for NIWA forecaster Ben Noll.