Road snowfall warnings are in place across multiple alpine routes, with MetService also forecasting a widespread frost later in the week.
New Zealand
11:23am
1:29
El Niño conditions strengthened considerably during August and have shown the strongest warming trend on record, with impacts on Northland's weather patterns already emerging.
Fri, Sep 18
Meteorologist John Law told Breakfast people could expect temperatures to "really fluctuate this season, up and down as we head through the next few days".
NZTA said "general caution is being encouraged where snow and flooding remain" after two state highways reopened.
Thu, Sep 17
Snow, heavy rain and plunging temperatures are set to hit parts of the South Island today as a cold front moves north, bringing a sharp end to the recent mild weather.
Wed, Sep 16
MetService said Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru could potentially swing from highs in the low 20s on Tuesday, to struggling to reach 10C by Thursday.
Mon, Sep 14
Westpac says developing El Niño conditions could hit pasture-based farming hard, especially dairy, sheep and beef.
Most regions will have "pockets of sunshine" to look forward to this weekend.
Thu, Sep 10
Heavy rain is raising river levels and causing disruption, with floodgates activated near Feilding and a Wairarapa bridge on alert.
Mon, Sep 7
The closure on SH6, West Coast followed heavy rain and widespread surface flooding, fallen trees and other slips reported across the central South Island today.
Sun, Sep 6
Metservice said a large trough would bring heavy rain to many areas, while snow could also effect mountain passes of the South Island.
Tararua is preparing for a possibly prolonged and intense El Niño season as scientists say this year’s climate event may be one of the strongest in recent history.
Fri, Sep 4
MetService said wind gusts of up to 211km/h had already been recorded, and the risk of thunderstorms would persist into the weekend.
Earth Sciences New Zealand said exceptional June warmth helped make this year's winter one of the country's warmest since records began.
The current El Niño is expected to bring a warm, dry and windy spring for many parts of the country – putting pressure on crops, pasture and water supplies.
Thu, Sep 3
Above average temperatures are most likely for the east and north of the North Island this spring.
Wed, Sep 2
Dumping of snow closes SH87 from Outram to Middlemarch with caution urged on SH88 at Sawyers Bay.
Mon, Aug 31
In an update on Sunday, the Whangārei District Council said the effects of the heavy rain have been only minor.
Sun, Aug 30
Our resident forecaster and meteorologist explains what to expect as we head into the new season.
A low-pressure system moving down from the north was "bringing periods heavy rain across" much of the upper North Island.
Sat, Aug 29
El Niños are more than 36% stronger than they were before the industrial age began in the mid 1800s, with a 16% jump in just the last 40 years showing that the increase is accelerating, according to a recent study.
Environment
Fri, Aug 28
Heavy snow, rockfalls and avalanche risk are disrupting travel across the South Island, with forecasters warning of more heavy rain and snow to come.
Thu, Aug 27
Storm systems are named by procedures set by the World Meteorological Organization, and the lists of names are reused every six years
World
Wed, Aug 26
Heavy rain warnings have extended up the West Coast as a "significant winter storm" grinds to a halt over the South Island today.
A slow-moving system is set to dump up to 500mm of rain on the West Coast, while heavy snow threatens inland Canterbury and Otago.
Tue, Aug 25
