A truck appeared to be stuck in the snow this morning.

Major Otago road to stay closed overnight as snow storm strikes south

Dumping of snow closes SH87 from Outram to Middlemarch with caution urged on SH88 at Sawyers Bay.

Monday 2:11pm

Woman walks in the rain.

Strong winds batter parts of NZ, roads to reopen in Whangārei

In an update on Sunday, the Whangārei District Council said the effects of the heavy rain have been only minor.

Sun, Aug 30

Daniel Corbett explains how this spring will have a different look to previous ones.

Daniel Corbett - here's what our intensifying El Niño spring will look like

Our resident forecaster and meteorologist explains what to expect as we head into the new season.

Sun, Aug 30

A generic image of a flooded road.

Flood alert system activated in north Auckland as downpours persist

A low-pressure system moving down from the north was "bringing periods heavy rain across" much of the upper North Island.

Sat, Aug 29

A woman uses a fan to cool off while riding a bus on a hot day in Bucharest, Romania.

Climate change is intensifying El Niños - study suggests

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.

Fri, Aug 28

Snow blankets buildings in Aoraki/Mount Cook

Winter storm shuts South Island highways, avalanche risk climbs

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

NOAA satellite image shows Tropical Storm Cristobal in the Atlantic Ocean.

What a coincidence - the next Atlantic storm will be named... Dolly

Storm systems are named by procedures set by the World Meteorological Organization, and the lists of names are reused every six years

Wed, Aug 26

MetService has upgraded a heavy rain watch to an orange-level warning with up to 90mm of rain expected in 12 hours.

West Coast in the firing line as winter storm parks over the South

Heavy rain warnings have extended up the West Coast as a "significant winter storm" grinds to a halt over the South Island today.

Wed, Aug 26

A slow-moving system is set to dump up to 500mm of rain on Westland, while heavy snow threatens inland Canterbury and Otago, with major travel disruption possible.

South Island storm warnings issued as up to 500mm of rain forecast

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

El Niño is expected to bring drier conditions to northeastern New Zealand, with potential impacts on farming, hydroelectric power and wildfire risk.

Five things to know about how record-breaking El Niño will affect us

Ocean temperatures are at record levels, with New Zealand facing the prospect of a drier year, increased wildfire risk and impacts on farming and power generation.

Tue, Aug 25

Rain on the West Coast (file image).

'Significant winter storm' to stall over South Island from midweek

Days of prolonged rain will swell West Coast rivers before heavy snow closes in on inland passes later in the week.

Mon, Aug 24

Power lines.

Hundreds still without power as storm, grid fault hit lower South

Stormy conditions and a national grid fault knocked out power to more than 25,000 properties at around lunchtime.

Sun, Aug 23

A potentially record-breaking climate pattern is intensifying unusually fast — and this weekend could offer the first taste of drier, windier conditions.

Fire crews, farmers preparing as NZ gears up for intense El Niño

A potentially record-breaking climate pattern is intensifying unusually fast — and this weekend could offer the first taste of drier, windier conditions.

Sun, Aug 23

The current weather warnings in place.

New and upgraded weather warnings as fronts bring wind and rain

A series of fronts "embedded within a strong and moist northwest flow" will move over New Zealand today and tomorrow, followed by a change to strong, colder southwesterlies.

Sat, Aug 22

MetService weather warnings and watches on August 21, 2026.

'A taster of spring': Fronts bring heavy rain, gales

MetService said a couple of fronts, embedded in a strong and moist northwest flow, will move over New Zealand across the weekend.

Fri, Aug 21

The US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort docks at the Cristobal port in Colon, Panama, June 29, 2025.

US to send hospital ship to Peru as El Niño threat looms

The USNS Comfort will arrive in the northern Pacific coast of Peru in February 2027, when El Niño is expected to peak.

Thu, Aug 20

Chris Divitt shared this frosty image, saying it was -1.6C in Rural Mangōnui, Far North.

People wake to icy conditions, sub-zero temps across the country

The forecaster said minimum temperatures recorded since midnight were in the single digits for most.

Thu, Aug 20

How much longer until spring? Well, that depends

How much longer until spring? Well, that depends

The start of meteorological spring is upon us, but the long daytime hours associated with the season is still a month away.

Wed, Aug 19

The deepest reds along the equator show where the ocean is running most unusually warm, a signal of a strengthening El Niño.

'Pretty unusual': Graphic highlights El Niño's rapid intensification

Ocean conditions have flipped from La Niña to a fast-intensifying El Niño in a matter of months, with more profound impacts expected for New Zealand.

Tue, Aug 18

State Highway 1 between Rangipo and Waiouru has reopened following an earlier closure due to snow (File image).

Desert Rd reopens after earlier closure due to snow

State Highway 1 between Rangipo and Waiouru was closed earlier this morning as Kiwis woke to more sub-zero temperatures.

Mon, Aug 17

This NOAA satellite image taken at 5:22 p.m. EST on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, shows Tropical Storm Lala as it approaches Hawaii's Big Island.

'First time since satellites': Rare hurricane threat for Hawaii's Big Island

Tropical Storm Lala is expected to strengthen to a hurricane before reaching Hawaii's Big Island this weekend.

Sat, Aug 15

Rocks fall onto State Highway 35.

Snow warnings for alpine passes, rockfall shuts Gisborne highway overnight

Snow and freezing conditions are set to spread across the country, with icy roads and bitterly cold temperatures expected into next week.

Sat, Aug 15

MetService said this morning that "rain intensities have eased".

Heavy deluges hit Coromandel and Far North, warning remains for Tairāwhiti

Earlier, a weather radar detected severe thunderstorms offshore north of Cape Brett, Purerua, Paihia and Kerikeri.

Fri, Aug 14

A dog runs over dried grass in front of Tower Bridge during the fifth heatwave of the year in London.

UK firefighters out in force to tackle fires on hottest day of the year

The Met Office said the temperature of 38.1C in west London was a tenth of a degree higher than the previous record set June 28.

Fri, Aug 14

A front moves slowly eastwards across Bay of Plenty/Rotorua and Gisborne/Tairawhiti today and tomorrow, bringing a period of heavy rain.

Heavy rain warnings for eastern regions of the North Island

NZTA is warning people on the east coast of the North Island to "drive to the conditions overnight and tomorrow" as heavy rain warnings come into effect.

Thu, Aug 13