Auckland's Watercare Services is drawing about 15 million liters (4 million gallons) of water a day more from the Waikato River since June 16, invoking emergency powers in response to its worst drought in 25 years. New Zealand utility company Watercare is…
The severe drought in North Island, New Zealand– the worst in 50 years in some areas– has prompted the Auckland Council's Emergency Committee to introduce mandatory water restrictions, which will be effective across the region beginning May 16, 2020. This…
A moderately strong earthquake registered by the GeoNet as M5.6 at a depth of 67 km (42 miles) hit near Te Anau in South Island, New Zealand, at 22:52 UTC on April 26, 2020 (10:52 LT on April 27). The USGS is reporting it as M4.9 at a depth of 79 km (49 miles). The…
Mount Ruapehu's Crater Lake (Te Wai a-Moe) heated from 24 °C (75.2 °F) to 40 °C (104 °F) in response to earthquakes beneath the volcano, according to the GeoNet bulletin issued on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at…
The New Zealand army has been deployed to drought-stricken Northland to assist in relief efforts amid worsening drought conditions. Authorities described the situation as the worst drought on record. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)…
Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) has responded to a short-lived episode of volcanic earthquakes beneath Mount Ruapehu, detected on February 22 and 23, 2020. Seismicity declined after initial uptick but is now back at similar levels. To further understand the current…
A short-lived episode of volcanic earthquakes occurred beneath Mt. Ruapehu on February 22 and 23, 2020. The sequence now appears to be over. The Volcanic Alert Level, therefore, remains at Level 1. The last known eruption of this volcano took place in 2007 (VEI…
Tropical Cyclone "Uesi" has dumped heavy rains to northern New Caledonia as the storm passed west of the islands on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. The storm is on course to bring severe storms to Australia's east coast in the following days, while New…
Thousands of residents in South Island, New Zealand, were forced to evacuate their homes on Wednesday morning, February 5, 2020, after severe flooding hit the region, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency. The severe weather also left hundreds of…
White Island volcano (Whakaari) remains in an elevated state of unrest, but no further extrusion of lava has occurred. GNS' assessment is that further explosive eruptions remain very unlikely on any given day. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and the…
